ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina dissolved the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, deepening the political crisis in the Indian Ocean nation after a military rebellion led him to flee the country and go into hiding.

Rajoelina issued a decree for the National Assembly to be dissolved immediately, according to a statement posted on the Madagascar presidency’s Facebook page.

Rajoelina’s whereabouts are unknown after an elite military unit joined youth-led anti-government protests over the weekend and called for him to step down in an apparent coup attempt. The president said in a speech broadcast on social media on Monday night that he left the country for a “safe place” in fear for his life. He didn’t say where he was.

His move to dissolve the National Ass

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