Madagascar mutineers arrested, army says

Pro-government troops in Madagascar on Saturday stormed a rebel army base and arrested all the mutineers who declared that they had seized power earlier this week, officials say.

Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

"The operation is over. They gave themselves up. It has ended without bloodshed," said Alain Ramaroson, the head of the country's senate defence council.

Gunfire was heard when about 50 soldiers stormed the base in a brief operation which Ramarason says was completed without bloodshed.

The 20 or so mutineers had been negotiating with the authorities but on Saturday they insisted they would not give up on their efforts to unseat President Andry Rajoelina and end the political crisis that has racked the country.