Antananarivo, Madagascar - Tourism industry officials in Madagascar are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of politcally motivated violence that has kept the island's capital Antananarivo in its grasp, media reports said Thursday.

"Reservations until and including March have been cancelled almost completely. Several thousands of jobs in hotels, restaurants and with travel offices are in danger," said Joel Randriamandranto of Madagascar's national tourism office.

While no tourist has been injured in the political violence and looting, frightening news reports from the spice island located off the eastern African coast has scared off tourists, he said.

Antananarivo - Amid the power struggle on Madagascar, some 50,000 people staged a demonstration Wednesday to support embattled President Marc Ravalomanana.

The demonstration, held in a stadium in the capital, was peaceful as of noon, and took place despite efforts by rival politician Andry Rajoelina to prevent it.

Rajoelina's backers had urged people to stay at home and bring public life to a standstill.

Antananarivo - Two Madagascar government ministers resigned over the shooting dead by security forces of dozens of unarmed opposition supporters at the weekend, reports said Monday.

Local media reported that Defence Minister Cecile Manorohanta had announced her resignation in a statement read out on a Malagasy radio station.

"After everything that has happened, I have decided not to be part of the government from this moment on," she was quoted as saying.

The justice minister, also a woman, whose name is given by the government's website as Justice Bakolalao Ramanandraibe Ranaivoharivony, was also reported by Michelle Ratsivalaka, a candidate for mayor of the capital Antananarivo, to have resigned.

Vatican City  - Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday expressed "concern" for the situation in Madagascar where scores have been killed in clashes between government forces and demonstrators.

The pontiff speaking during his traditional Sunday Angelus blessing, called on the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square to pray for an end to the violence in the Indian Ocean island-state.

"The (Roman Catholic) bishops of the island have set aside a special day of prayer today for national reconciliation and social justice," Benedict said.

Antananarivo  - Madagascan troops opened fire Saturday on an anti-government demonstration in the capital, killing 40 protestors and injuring 300 in a bloodbath escalation of political tensions on the tropical island, local media reports said.

Among the dead were reportedly two TV journalists, including a foreign correspondent - but there was no immediate official confirmation of the death toll.

Antananarivo - Madagascan troops have opened fire on an anti-government demonstration in the capital, killing 40 protestors and injuring 300 more, according to local media reports on Saturday.

Among the dead are thought to be two TV journalists, including a foreign correspondent.

There was no immediate official confirmation of the death toll.

Soldiers fired on the demonstration on the tropical island off south-eastern Africa on Saturday afternoon, as protestors apparently tried to storm the presidential palace.