At least 19 people have been reported killed following a demonstration in the Madagascan town of Ikongo, located in the southeast of the country, APA has learnt on Tuesday.
Reports monitored from the capita Antananarivo says police and opened fire on the demonstrators who were protesting the alleged abduction of al albino child.
According to witnesses, the killings happened on Monday as a crowd of demonstrators stormed a police station where those accused of the kidnapping were detained.
Malagasy officials say an investigation into the incident has been commissioned but police chief Andry Rakotondrazaka said his men’s action was justified because they has to themselves during an apparent attack by the demonstrators.
It is not know what happened to the kidnapped albino whose mother was reportedly killed by an unspecified group.
The latest incident surrounding the child has ignited attention on the situation of albinos in some African countries like Tanzania and Malawi where they are hunted down for their body parts which are used for fetishes which allegedly enhance good fortune.
WN/as/APA