American Marconi Wireless News - Embattled Madagascar president delays national address, again

Rajoelina has faced the most serious test to his presidency since taking office, with weeks of deadly street protests and a mutinous army unit openly defying his authority.

The 51-year-old leader has not appeared in public since last Wednesday and is believed to have fled the country aboard a French military plane, according to Radio France Internationale. French authorities did not respond immediately to AFP's request for confirmation.

Rajoelina was due speak to the nation at 7:00 pm (1600 GMT), but it was delayed by an hour and half after "a group of armed forces threatened to take control of the state-owned media," the presidency said on Facebook.

The presidency did not name who had attempted to block the broadcast.

Newly appointed Chief of the Army Staff, General Demosthene Pikulas, "went to the site to mediate, organise and take action against the situation," it said.

After the initial delay elapsed, the presidency announced a second postponement to 9:30 pm (1830 GMT), citing "ongoing negotiations" without providing further details.

The protests, led by mostly young demonstrators, initially focused on chronic power and water cuts in the impoverished country but developed into a broader anti-government movement that called for Rajoelina to resign.

The United Nations has said that at least 22 people were killed in the first days, some by security forces and others in violence sparked by criminal gangs and looters in the wake of the demonstrations.

Rajoelina has disputed the toll, saying last week there were "12 confirmed deaths and all of these individuals were looters and vandals".

A.Mahlangu--AMWN