Madagascar's military has taken charge of the Indian Ocean island, an army colonel says, after President Andry Rajoelina fled abroad during a stand-off with youth-led protesters and security forces.

"We have taken the power," Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who led a mutiny of soldiers joining anti-government Gen Z demonstrators, said on state radio.

Randrianirina added that the military was dissolving all institutions except the lower house of parliament or National Assembly, which voted to impeach Rajoelina minutes earlier.

In a day of turmoil for the country off east Africa, the 51-year-old leader had sought to dissolve the assembly by decree.

Despite flying out on a French military jet, Rajoelina is refusing to step down in defiance of weeks of Gen Z protests demanding his resignati

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