Opposition supporters have launched a second day of protests in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, aimed at forcing the government from power.

Witnesses say shops, businesses and public transport were shut down and the main airport was at a standstill as hundreds of thousands of people crowded into the capital's main square.

Opposition presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana, who is also Mayor of Antananarivo, called for the indefinite strike to pressure the government to resign following December elections he claims he won.

He has rejected the High Constitutional Court's ruling that ordered a second-round run-off and accused election authorities of rigging the polls in favor of President Didier Ratsiraka.

Results from the presidential polls showed neither Mr. Ravalomanana nor President Ratsiraka won an outright majority. The opposition claims Mr. Ravalomanana won the election outright and has mounted mass protests in Antananarivo over the past three weeks.

The government said Sunday it will proceed with the second round of elections on February 24.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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