Madagascar opposition calls more protests

By Alain Iloniaina

ANTANANARIVO, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Madagascar's opposition promised more anti-government protests on Tuesday and looting shook the capital overnight after the worst day of street violence for years on the Indian Ocean island.

Two people died on Monday when demonstrations against President Marc Ravalomanana's government turned violent, according to witnesses and security sources. Crowds set fire to a state media building and ransacked shops, with a policeman and teenager killed in the chaos and crushes.

Those scenes revived memories of past political volatility on Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, and will not help the government's efforts to present the nation as a tourist haven and sound destination for investment in mining and oil.

Angry at the closure of his private TV station and denouncing Ravalomanana as a dictator, Antananarivo's 34-year-old mayor and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina is leading the demonstrations. He called late on Monday for a resumption of protests on Tuesday in the main square.

But he also urged peaceful demonstrations, and said he would hold talks with the president.

"I have accepted to talk with President Ravalomanana in the presence of ambassadors of countries who give financial support to Madagascar," he told Radio Antsiva.

"Keep calm because there are those that will profit [from disorder]," he added in an appeal to supporters.

Relations between Ravalomanana, a 59-year-old dairy tycoon in power since 2002, and Rajoelina, deteriorated when authorities shut his Viva television station in December. The president accuses the major of trying to stir a revolt.