ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, March 14 (UPI) -- Hundreds of protesters demanding the resignation of Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana gathered Saturday in Antananarivo, witnesses said.
His rival, Andry Rajoelina, emerged from hiding to appear at the rally in the island nation's capital city, joining a call from mutinying troops seeking Ravalomanana's resignation, the BBC reported.
The struggle between the two men has divided by the military and the country at large as both have supporters and detractors, analysts told the British broadcaster. The struggle has produced seven weeks of riots, protests and looting, and observers said the country was on the brink of intervention by the military.
The BBC said orange-clad opposition backers of Rajoelina gathered Saturday at Antananarivo's 13 May Plaza, the scene of popular rebellions stretching back to Madagascar's independence from France in 1960.
