Madagascar president dissolves national assembly, escalating crisis

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina said on Tuesday he had dissolved the national assembly, escalating a standoff with youth-led protesters and the military which forced him to flee the country.

A decree posted on Facebook said the president had consulted with the leaders of the assembly and the Senate, but it was not immediately clear if the move had legal value.

In a defiant address to the nation from an undisclosed location on Monday, Rajoelina refused to step down despite pressure from weeks of Gen Z protests demanding his resignation and widespread defections in the army.

The opposition has been trying to gather enough signatures to launch impeachment proceedings against him in parliament.