Madagascar capital deserted after violent protests

Antananarivo (AFP) — The streets were largely deserted in Madagascar’s capital Friday as residents took stock of the damage from a day of violent protests over frequent power cuts and water shortages.

The protest in Antananarivo, led by hundreds of mostly young demonstrators, was met with a heavy police response, with rubber bullets and tear gas used to disperse the crowd.

The rampage continued after nightfall, prompting police to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew after banks and stores were looted and set on fire. Homes of three pro-government parliamentarians were also torched.

A station of the city’s new cable car system — one of the government’s flagship infrastructure projects — was also set on fire.

Five protesters were killed in the violence, a hospital source said. AFP has not been