Mutinous troops in Madagascar said Friday they were now able to deploy the army's tanks as necessary, a claim that, if confirmed, would show their influence is spreading within the divided security forces. Col. Noel Rakotonandrasana, spokesman for the army faction that has declared it would no longer take orders from President Marc Ravalomanana, told The Associated Press Friday that tanks were moved overnight «to barracks where they are needed.» Rakotonandrasana would not elaborate, but denied rumors the mutineers were planning to march on the presidential palace. While the mutineers have rejected Ravalomanana, they have not explicitly thrown their support to his rival, Andry Rajoelina. The mutineers say their priority is keeping order while the politicians work out their differences. No tanks were seen Friday in the increasingly tense capital. A private radio station owned by Ravalomanana was urging listeners to go to the presidency to protect him, and pro- as well as anti-government demonstrators were gathering in the streets. The military's support for the president began to waver last month after security forces opened fire and killed at least 25 pro-Rajoelina demonstrators in the capital.
