Demonstrators gather at central Antananarivo to support opposition leader Andry Rajoelina Feb. 7, 2009. Grand rally was held here as Rajoelina earlier on the day proclaimed president of Madagascar.

ANTANANARIVO, Feb.7 (Xinhua) -- More then 30 anti-government demonstrators, including a journalist from the local Radio Television Analamanga, were shot dead shortly after lunch time on Saturday by foreign commandos who were guarding the presidential palace in downtown area of Madagascar's capital city.

According to a private radio, Antsiva, the military force in Antananarivo were fighting against these foreign troops around the presidential palace. The radio said that many more people were injured while many vehicles were set on fire by the demonstrators.

Earlier, Madagascan opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, also major of Antananarivo proclaimed president of Madagascar and announced the set-up of a transitional government. Rajoelina appointed 43-year-old Zafitsimivalo Monja Roindefo, the son of a well-known Madagascan nationalist Monja Jaona, as prime minister of the transitional government at a mass gathering here at the lunch time on Saturday.

Then he led the demonstrators to the president palace in downtown area to take over the president power.