The office of Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has said an attempt to seize power illegally and unconstitutionally is under way in the country.

His statement comes a day after an army unit known as CAPSAT condemned use of force by security forces in handling recent protests in the capital Antananarivo.

This is the same unit that played a crucial role in the 2009 Malagasy political crisis, which helped Rajoelina rise to power.

Madagascar was first hit by protests on 25 September against water and power cuts, but they have escalated to reflect wider dissatisfaction with Rajoelina’s government over high unemployment, corruption, and the cost-of-living crisis.

Rajoelina’s statement on Sunday said “there is an attempt to seize power at this time in the territory of the Republic, in complete violation of the Constitution and democratic principles,” in a translation.

He condemned what he called an attempt to destabilise the country. He also called on all of the nation’s key forces to unite in defending the constitutional order and national sovereignty.