Madagascar Police Clash With Protesters as Vote Result Nears

(Bloomberg) -- Madagascar’s police fired tear gas to break up a fifth day of protests by supporters of Marc Ravalomanana, the loser in last month’s runoff presidential election.

Ravalomanana claims the Dec. 19 ballot, in which the electoral commission declared rival candidate Andry Rajoelina the provisional winner, was rigged and demanded a review by the Constitutional Court. The court is scheduled to announce the final results on Jan. 8.

Police and army forces clashed with Ravalomanana’s supporters in Antananarivo, the capital, on Saturday, a day after the government ordered tighter security in the city and banned further rallies.

To contact the reporters on this story: Aina Rahagalala in Antananarivo at arahagalala@bloomberg.net;Kamlesh Bhuckory in Port Louis at kbhuckory1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Antony Sguazzin at asguazzin@bloomberg.net, Paul Richardson, Helen Nyambura

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