Soldiers and security forces joined hundreds celebrating in Madagascar’s capital Monday, hours before President Andry Rajoelina was due to address the nation following weeks of protests and growing calls for his resignation.

Rajoelina has not appeared in public since last Wednesday, fuelling speculation among demonstrators that he may have fled the country.

People flooded a square in front of the Antananarivo city hall, waving flags and chanting slogans, some hanging off military vehicles as they arrived, AFP reporters saw.

Among them were soldiers from the army CAPSAT unit, which played a major role in the 2009 coup that first brought Rajoelina to power and on Saturday declared it would “refuse orders to shoot” on demonstrators.

Also present were gendarmerie officers, accused of using

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