Hundreds of people demonstrated in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, on Monday -- the 12th day of a youth-led protest movement that has plunged the country into political crisis.

Near-daily protests that started on September 25 against persistent water and power cuts in the Indian Ocean island have grown into an anti-government movement calling for President Andry Rajoelina to resign.

Rajoelina sacked his government on September 29 in an attempt to placate public anger but this has not satisfied the demonstrators.

University students and local residents gathered near the University of Ankatso on the outskirts of the capital on Monday before marching towards the city centre, where they were stopped by a security force barricade, AFP reporters said.

"The future of this country depends

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