Madagascar capital deserted after violent protests | International

ANTANANARIVO, Sept 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The streets were largely deserted in Madagascar's capital Friday as residents took stock of the damage from a day of violent protests over frequent power cuts and water shortages. The protest in Antananarivo, led by hundreds of mostly young demonstrators, was met with a heavy police response, with rubber bullets and tear gas used to disperse the crowd. The rampage continued after nightfall, prompting police to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew after banks and stores were looted and set on fire. Homes of three pro-government parliamentarians were also torched. A station of the city's new cable car system -- one of the government's flagship infrastructure projects -- was also set on fire. Five protesters were...