Youth-led Madagascar protests began over water and electricity shortages but have since escalated. Photo: AP PHOTO

Madagascar's presidency says "an attempted illegal and forcible seizure of power" is under way in the African country, without providing details, a day after some soldiers joined a protest movement that had begun last month.

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Troops from the elite CAPSAT unit that helped President Andry Rajoelina seize power in a 2009 coup urged fellow soldiers to disobey orders and back the youth-led protests, which began on September 25 and pose the most serious challenge to Rajoelina'

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