An army general loyal to Madagascan President Didier Ratsiraka was shot dead by three men in a provincial hospital today, after being injured in a new round of unrest in the Indian Ocean state, hospital officials said.
General Raymond Randrianaivo was killed at the hospital in the central city of Fianarantsoa, to which he had been taken after being injured.
The killing came only hours after the deaths of two women who were shot by troops under his command during the unrest in the troubled city.
General Ratsiraka and his rival, Mr Marc Ravalomanana, are in conflict over the result of a presidential election held in December.
Both men claim to be the legitimate president of Madagascar. General Randrianaivo was the officer in command of the troops sent by the Ratsiraka government to put down pro-Ravalomanana unrest.
