General shot dead in hospital bed

A firefight between soldiers is the latest evidence of worsening violence

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar -- Gunmen assassinated a Madagascan general in his hospital bed after he was wounded in a gunfight between members of the armed forces.

Three masked assassins pumped seven bullets into General Raymond Andrianaivo in a hospital in the town of Fianarantsoa, where he was being treated, hospital sources told Reuters.

He had been shot in a firefight on Tuesday between two convoys of soldiers loyal to embattled President Didier Ratsiraka, the sources said.

The latest violence came as African leaders held separate meetings in Senegal with Ratsiraka and self-declared ruler Marc Ravalomanana, hoping to staunch worsening bloodshed on the giant Indian Ocean isle.

The army gun battle was the first among the armed forces since the start of the island's four-month leadership crisis.

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Earlier on Tuesday, Andrianaivo's men shot dead two women protesters at a barricade erected by supporters of Ravalomanana.

Witnesses told Reuters that the army gunfight began when after a dispute developed between Andrianaivo's convoy and a second group of military vehicles sent to help reinforce the general's men.

One of Andrianaivo's officers, Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Baptiste Rasolofo, was killed in the firefight, witnesses said.

A week ago one person was killed and 20 were injured in Antananarivo when unidentified assailants ransacked the houses of four associates of veteran president Ratsiraka.

The dead general was a supporter of embattled President Didier Ratsiraka

More than 35 people have been killed in clashes involving rival protesters and security forces since the crisis began.

The army on the island of 15 million is divided between supporters of Ratsiraka, a former admiral, and Ravalomanana, a millionaire mayor who accuses the government of rigging December 16 polls.

Ravalomanana seized control of Madagascar's capital and had himself declared president on Ferbruary 22, saying Ratsiraka rigged the results of the election.

The clashes took place as African leaders attempted to mediate a solution, holding overnight meetings with Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana in Senegal.

It was uncertain if the rivals would meet face to face at the talks in the capital Dakar.

"I came to meet with my counterparts -- they listened to what I had to say," Ratsiraka told reporters after meeting at a Dakar hotel with the leaders of Senegal, Mozambique, Ivory Coast and Benin, and Amara Essy, secretary-general of the Organisation for African Unity (OAU), which has spearheaded peace efforts to date.

"It's not yet finished, but it's well on the way," said Ravalomanana after meeting the same group. Both meetings lasted over an hour and more contacts were expected later on Wednesday.

After arriving on Tuesday, both had reaffirmed their claims to be rightful ruler of Madagascar.