Thousands demonstrate against new president

Supporters of ousted Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana took to the streets in the capital, Antananarivo, to protest the army-backed takeover of the island by the new president, Andry Rajoelina.Thousands of opponents of Madagascar's new president, Andry Rajoelina, rallied on Monday for the first of what they said would be daily protests against his army-backed takeover on the Indian Ocean island.Unrest prior to Rajoelina's rise killed 135 people, crippled the $390 million-a-year tourism industry and unnerved foreign investors in the important mine and oil sectors.Witnesses said about 3,000 supporters of former president Marc Ravalomanana, who stepped down last week after a seven-year rule, gathered in an Antananarivo park for several hours from Monday morning, chanting slogans and pledging resistance. "I am here to show my refusal to accept the transitional government. Ravalomanana had two more years left. Why didn't they wait for elections and listen to the Malagasy people?" said schoolteacher Olga, who declined to give her surname. The demonstrators had planned to march to the same May 13 square where Rajoelina held months of near-daily protests that pressured Ravalomanana to stand down. They dispersed, however, when an army vehicle pulled up and fired a shot, apparently in warning, into the air."We have not finished yet!" the crowd chanted in Malagasy, pledging to protest daily through the week.Rajoelina, who is Africa's youngest president at 34, does appear to have strong support among the young and poor in the capital. He also has the military top brass behind him.