The Chinese news agency Xinhua is reporting that the Madagascan opposition leader Andry Rajoelina has declared that he would go to the presidential palace to take over the presidential power at 6:00 p.m (1500 GMT) this saturday.

Addressing a mass gathering around lunch time on Saturday, Rajoelina said that he would go to the presidential palace not for negotiation but to say goodbye to President Marc Ravalomanana.

Guarded by the armed troops, Rajoelina asked Ravalomanana to resign peacefully and, if not, he would go to the presidential palace with the armed troops. The threat is not without bite following the transfer of allegiance of substantial parts of the army to the opposition.

Rajoelina said he would first send a delegation to the presidential palace before he going himself to take over. He made the pronouncement at a mass gathering, attended by senior officials of the government led by Ravalomanana.

The opposition leader has been bolstered by the defection of the National assembly president Jacques Sylla from the government and his declaration of support for the government. Sylla has also asked president Ravalomanana to resign. Rajoelina promised Ravalomanana that, as a fervent Christian, he would not kill him and told his supporters not to kill Ravalomanana.