From the U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar:

Due to the unstable political situation in Madagascar, the U.S. Embassy has authorized departure of non-emergency personnel and family members of Embassy employees. Additionally the Peace Corps has decided to send all Madagascar-based Peace Corps volunteers to South Africa and temporarily suspend their Madagascar program. At this time, the embassy is encouraging non-emergency staff and family members to depart while commercial air is still readily available. We encourage all Americans in Madagascar to monitor the situation closely and consider departing the country while commercial air is still operating normally.

We remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid areas of demonstrations. American citizens should monitor media coverage of local events for indications of anti-American sentiments and demonstrations focusing on foreign embassies.

Media Newswire provides contact information for individuals that have family members serving in Peace Corps Madagascar (emphasis added):

Peace Corps staff in Madagascar is working closely with the U.S. Embassy to carefully monitor the situation. They will, if necessary, take appropriate actions under the Peace Corps/Madagascar Emergency Action Plan. The safety and security of Volunteers is the number one priority of the Peace Corps.

The invitee group that was scheduled to travel to Madagascar on March 10 has unfortunately been cancelled. Every effort is being made to ensure that those scheduled to go to Madagascar have the opportunity to carry out volunteer service in another country.

Each Peace Corps program has an Emergency Action Plan specific to that country and developed in cooperation with Peace Corps Washington and the local U.S. Embassy. The plans are evaluated and tested frequently and information is updated constantly. Volunteers are thoroughly trained in their roles and responsibilities, and posts are prepared for all emergencies.

Families may contact the Peace Corps/Madagascar Desk with any questions or concerns they may have at 202-692-2324 during business hours, and the Office of Special Services after hours. The Office of Special Services maintains a 24-hour, 7 days a week duty system. The telephone number during standard office hours is 1-800-424-8580, Extension 1470; the after hours number is 202-692-1470. The Office of Special Services can also be contacted via e-mail at ossdutyofficer@peacecorps.gov.

Over 811 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Madagascar since the program was established in 1993. Volunteers on this Indian Ocean island work in the areas of education, environmental and agricultural conservation, health and HIV/AIDS awareness, hygiene promotion, animal and wildlife preservation, and business development.

More from Radio Netherlands:

The United States has urged its citizens to leave Madagascar because of the increasing tension on the island. Earlier, the US ambassador in Madagascar warned that the nation was on the verge of a civil war because of the current struggle for power between President Marc Ravalomanana and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina.

The two leaders were due to meet for talks under United Nations’ mediation this week, but Mr Rajoelina has now boycotted the meeting.

And from the AFP:

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated Thursday outside the offices of Madagascar’s president, a day after talks to resolve the island’s months-old polticial crisis were shelved.

The group broke off from around 3,000 opposition demonstrators attending a rally in the centre of the capital Antananarivo, and later rejoined the main rally after the brief protest outside the office of President Marc Ravalomanana.

Security forces prevented the marchers from reaching the office, but two opposition officials managed to enter the nearby ministry of finance office.

There was little security presence in the town centre and the crowd later dispersed peacefully, an AFP correprondent reported.

A previous attempt last month to march on Ravalomanana’s office ended with security forces opening fire on the opposition protesters, killing 28.

The Indian Ocean island has been gripped by a political crisis since late January when former Antananarivo mayor Andry Rajoelina called for anti-government demonstrations.

More than 100 people have been killed in the unrest, mainly at the hands of the security forces.

Head of the military police says he is no longer taking order from President Marc Ravalomanana’s government. From the BBC:

General Pily Gilbain said his men were backing the new head of the army, Col Andre Andriarijaona, who has ousted the commander appointed by the president.

Correspondents say it means both the army and the military police have now distanced themselves from beleaguered President Marc Ravalomanana.

He has been in a fierce power struggle with opposition leader Andy Rajoelina.

In a statement on national radio on Thursday, President Ravalomanana tried to regain control, saying: “Our priority is to restore law and order.

Madagascar risking civil war, rise of dictatorship. From allAfrica.com:

[US ambassador to Madagascar, Niels Marquardt, . . . on national television,] went on to praise steps taken by Ravalomanana to meet the conditions called for by the opposition movement: “For instance, the equal access to RNM and TVM [Madagascar's state-owned radio and television stations], which should start today, and restoring Radio Viva [Rajoelina's radio station] so that they can communicate.”

Meanwhile, the military installed a new army chief on 11 March. Colonel Andre Andriarijaoana, who is linked to a rebellion in the army, has replaced the former chief of staff, Edmond Rasolofomahandry.

Rasolofomahandry had earlier issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the politicians to find a solution to the crisis or the army would step in. His removal by soldiers who said they no longer supported the president has added to a growing sense of uncertainty on the streets of the capital, Antananarivo.

In an official statement, foreign diplomats and other members of the international community said non-democratic alternatives to ending the crisis were not acceptable: “These would have grave negative consequences on relations between Madagascar and the rest of the world, and on our capacity to help support development in the country.”

Under several treaties signed with donor countries, failure to resolve the crisis through constitutional processes could lead to the suspension of foreign aid.

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