A Madagascan elite military unit colonel said Tuesday that the armed forces are taking power in what appeared to confirm that President Andry Rajoelina had been removed in a coup.

Col. Michael Randrianirina's announcement in Antananarivo came almost immediately after parliament voted to impeach Rajoelina, who has fled the country.

“We are establishing a national reform mechanism that responds to the aspirations of the Malagasy people for the restoration of democracy, for the strengthening of trust in state institutions, and for the establishment of a government based on well-managed justice and accountability to the people," the colonel announced.

He confirmed that parts of the 2010 constitution were to be terminated but said the national assembly will continue its work.

Rajoelina had faced calls to resign after weeks of anti-government demonstrations led by Gen Z protestors rocked the country.

The protests first erupted last month over electricity and water outages but snowballed into larger dissatisfaction with the government and the leadership of Rajoelina.

Protesters have brought up a range of issues, including poverty and the cost of living, access to tertiary education, and alleged corruption by government officials and their families and associates.

The protesters have said they were inspired by other Gen Z-led movements of frustrated youth that toppled leaders in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

On Saturday, Randrianirina and troops from the elite CAPSAT military unit joined the protests and turned against Rajoelina, forcing him into hiding.

Rajoelina first came to power in 2009 as the leader of a transitional government following a military-backed coup. His current whereabouts are unknown, but he announced that he had fled the country.

AP video by Nqobile Ntshangase