An airport in the north-western town of Mahajanga in Madagascar has been attacked by forces loyal to new President Marc Ravalomanana, reports say.

We're going to smash all the roadblocks

Defence Minister Jules Mamizara

Officials in the administration of Mr Ravalomanana's rival, Didier Ratsiraka, say that the assault was repulsed and that one of the attackers was killed.

Mr Ravalomanana's officials have repeatedly warned in recent weeks that they would use force to remove blockades imposed on their stronghold in the capital by those loyal to Didier Ratsiraka.

Mr Ravalomanana was sworn in as president earlier this month after disputed elections last December but Mr Ratsiraka denies that he lost the poll and is demanding a run-off.

'Civilian'

The BBC's Alastair Leithead says that the threat of serious armed conflict has increased in recent days.

Mr Ravalomanana's forces had planned to secure the airport so that a plane could be flown in from the capital Antananarivo, carrying troops to pursue military operations, officials on both sides of the Indian Ocean island conflict told the French news agency, AFP.

The provincial governor, Etienne Razafindehibe, told AFP by telephone AFP:

"There was an attempt to attack soldiers guarding the airport. Our forces drove off the attackers and killed one of them, a civilian armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle," he said.

The blockades are beginning to cause severe hardships in the capital, Antananarivo, where fuel and some foodstuffs are becoming scarce.

Ethnic clashes

Mr Ravalomanana's Defence Minister Jules Mamizara warned on Wednesday:

"We're going to smash all the roadblocks and establish our administration across the territory to bring normal life back to Madagascar."

Forces loyal to Ravalomanana are trying to establish their authority

Mahajanga is the country's second port and Mr Ravalomanana's supporters have said that they would target it before the country's main port - Tamatave.

Mr Ratsiraka has set up a rival administration in Tamatave, where his support is strong.

Earlier on Friday, thousands of Ratsiraka supporters marched through the streets of Tamatave, demanding the release of their Prime Minister, Tantely Andrianarivoa.

He is in the custody of Mr Ravalomanana's supporters after being arrested on Monday.

Earlier this month, Mahajanga was the scene of ethnic clashes between the rival political groupings.