Madagascar tells families to leave rebel barracks

ANTANANARIVO Nov 19 (Reuters) - Madagascar's armed forces minister Lucien Rakotoarimasy on Friday told families remaining in a barracks housing dissident army officers and people living nearby to leave the area on the outskirts of the capital.

Rebel officers have been holed up in the barracks near the international airport since Wednesday, when they said they planned to topple the government and set up a military council to run the Indian Ocean island.

Rakotoarimasy told Reuters that negotiations with the dissident officers were continuing and he wanted to avoid any confrontation between fellow soldiers. (Reporting by Alain Iloniaina; editing by David Clarke and Michael Roddy) (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com)