An attempted coup is underway in Madagascar, the country’s president says

ANTANANARIVO Madagascar AP An attempted coup is underway in the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar the country s president revealed on Sunday a day after members of an elite army unit were seen joining youth-led protests against the leadership Madagascar has been shaken by three weeks of the the bulk key unrest in years in the nation The protests are led by a group calling itself Gen Z Madagascar and the United Nations says the demonstrations have left people dead and dozens injured The authorities has disputed this number A declaration from President Andry Rajoelina s office noted it wishes to inform the nation and the international group that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force has been initiated In view of the extreme gravity of this situation the President of the Republic strongly condemns this attempt at destabilization and calls upon all forces of the nation to unite in defense of constitutional order and national sovereignty Rajoelina s office announced The comment did not straightaway identify who was attempting to overthrow the administration but members of the elite CAPSAT military unit joined youth-led protests against Rajoelina on Saturday The protests against system failures and alleged regime corruption and nepotism first erupted on since Sept Rajoelina first came to prominence as the transitional leader of Madagascar following a coup He was first elected president in and was reelected for a second term in Imray announced from Cape Town South Africa AP Africa news https apnews com hub africa Source