Madagascar CAPSAT troops join protests as illegal power-seizure bid

Soldiers from an elite military unit joined thousands of antigovernment protesters in Antananarivo on Saturday, prompting President Andry Rajoelina to say on Sunday that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force was under way. The troops, from the CAPSAT contingent based on the city outskirts, drove into the capital in armoured vehicles and escorted demonstrators to the symbolic May 13 Square, in a dramatic escalation of more than two weeks of youthled unrest over chronic water and electricity shortages and broader grievances about corruption and governance.

Video circulated by military figures and local outlets showed CAPSAT officers addressing crowds and calling on other security units to refuse orders to fire on protesters. CAPSAT commanders said they would not shoot and urged soldiers and gendarmes to join the movement. A CAPSAT colonel told the crowd, "Let us join forces, military, gendarmes and police, and refuse to be paid to shoot our friends." The presidency said the actions constituted an unlawful attempt to seize power and called on national forces to defend the constitution.

Authorities reported clashes during the operation to move into the city. CAPSAT...