Death toll in Madagascar’s political turmoil this week has increased to 51, including 7 in the northeast port city of Toamasina.

State security forces stand at a street in the Malagasy capital, Antananarivo Jan. 27, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

The opposition protests against President Marc Ravalomanana’s government since last weekend have created a political crisis on the Indian Ocean island and brought the worst scenes of street violence since 2002, when Ravalomanana overthrew former president Didier Ratsiraka after a six-month standstill.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet