Antananarivo  - Madagascar government soldiers fired on a demonstration by supporters of ousted ex-president Marc Ravalomanana in the capital Antananarivo Monday, reportedly killing and wounding several.

Antananarivo's private TV Plus broadcaster reported three dead, including a policeman, who was not wearing uniform, and several wounded, including two children.

The violence occutred when thousands of Ravalomanana supporters sought to march to the justice palace.

Soldiers initially fired teargas into the demonstrations, but when demonstrators retaliated by hurling stones, the soldiers then opened fire on the crowd, the reports said.

According to eyewitness accounts, the confrontation lasted several hours.

The violence is the latest incident in a months-long power struggle, in which interim President Andry Rajoelina with the help of the military ousted Ravalomanana in a bloodless transfer of power last month.

Ravalomanana went into exile after seven weeks of opposition protests over his increasingly authoritarian style and controversial spending that left over 100 dead.

Rajoelina, 34, a former mayor of Antananarivo, was entrusted with power by the military but the international community refuses to recognize his leadership, saying the manner of his arrival to power was tantamount to a coup. (dpa)