Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana yesterday called for talks with his main opponent, Antananarivo Mayor Andry Rajoelina, the day after anti-government protests turned violent. 25 people including employees of a food processing belonging to the President were killed in the riots.

"I call on people to calm down. We need to put aside our pride, our egos. We need to talk," Ravalomanana said on private Radio Antsiva.  "There have already been some contacts," he said, without elaborating.

Rajoelina for his part announced yesterday that he was suspending his anti-government protest campaign after a demonstrator was shot dead. There were no protests seen in the capital yesterday morning, a correspondent reported.

The protester was reportedly shot in the head by guards on Monday in front of Ravalomanana's private TV station, MBS, which along with the state radio building had been besieged by an angry mob. The mob subsequently set the TV and radio station ablaze.

Rajoelina has ratcheted up opposition to the government since last month, when it shut down his TV network Viva for broadcasting an interview with former president Didier Ratsiraka.

Rajoelina, 34, ran against Ravalomanana's party as an independent candidate in municipal elections in 2007 and since taking office has grown into the regime's most vocal opponent

The outspoken mayor at the centre of the unrest issued a radio appeal for "calm" after tens of thousands protested in the capital in response to his call for a general strike. "I call for calm," Antananarivo Mayor Andry Rajoelina said on private station Radio Antsiva, adding that "a discussion is underway" with the government of President Marc Ravalomanana. "The international community has called for discussions with the two protagonists. I am ready to do it, but only if we discuss the issues demanded by the people."

The Indian Ocean Island's Prime Minister, Charles Rabemananjara, confirmed that talks "between the two protagonists" had begun via another radio broadcast. Rabemananjara echoed the call for restraint, adding: "This is not the way to develop the country."

Rioters had earlier raided Radio Nationale Malgache in the city centre, while two warehouses of Ravalomanana's Tiko food processing company as well as his television station were also partially burned, witnesses and officials said.

Some rioters looted furniture, computers and files from the radio building before setting it ablaze and damaging vehicles parked nearby.

Supporters of the mayor also mounted roadblocks in a number of neighborhoods. The protester shot dead had been demonstrating in front of Ravalomanana's private TV station, MBS, according to the city's deputy mayor. "On our side, we have one victim shot in the head during a gathering at the headquarters of a private television," said Andriamahazo Nirhy-Lanto.

Nirhy-Lanto is a deputy of Rajoelina, who has labeled the president's regime a dictatorship. However, Rojoelina is reported to be an associate and a protégé of former Madagascar dictator Didier Ratsiraka who was overthrown by President Rovalomanana using similar uprisings.

The mounting tensions had forced Ravalomanana, who came to power after disputed elections in 2001, to cut short a trip to South Africa and return home on Sunday. Rajoelina has ratcheted up opposition to the government since last month, when it shut down his television network Viva for broadcasting an interview with former president Didier Ratsiraka. "Nowhere in the world has a military force ever succeeded in overcoming the force of the people," Rajoelina, standing on the back of a truck, told the crowd.

"Power belongs to the people. They can seize it (but) the government is proving to be a dictatorship every passing hour," said Rajoelina, nicknamed TGV, or high speed train for his rapid-fire personality.

The mayor defied government warnings to hold a major rally on Saturday in the capital at which he addressed more than 20,000 and called for a general strike.

Ravalomanana, who had been due to attend a regional summit beginning Monday in Pretoria, flew back on Sunday night and accused the mayor of calling for a revolt.

Several of Rajoelina's supporters taunted the president as his motorcade left the airport and at least two vehicles had their windows broken.  Rajoelina, 34, ran against Ravalomanana's party as an independent candidate in municipal elections in 2007 and since taking office has grown into the regime's most vocal opponent.

He has repeatedly condemned what he says are shrinking freedoms in Madagascar and also fiercely criticised a massive project to lease vast swathes of farmland to South Korean industrial giant Daewoo.

Madagascar has been dogged over the years by political turmoil. The run-up to the 2006 presidential elections won by Ravalomanana was fraught with unrest, including a series of grenade explosions rocking the capital. In 2006 former president Didier Ratsiraka attempted to cling to power after he lost to President Ravalomanana. Rovolomanana organized demonstrations in the Capital and forced the governemnt to free the capital. Didier Ratsiraka then ordered the army to blocked Antananarivo for several months. A recount of the votes was done after the intervention of France the former colonial power and AU. The final results came in favor of Rovolomanana.

Former colonial power France on Monday urged respect for "constitutional order" and democratic principles, while calling for dialogue between the parties.

(Additional reporting by Irene Kekiziba)