After two days of violence and looting that claimed the lives of more than 30 people in Madagascar, relative calm has settled over the Indian Ocean island nation. But the possibility of further violence loomed as anti-government protesters gathered in a central square, vowing future demonstrations. President Marc Ravalomanana and other senior government officials surveyed some of the damage Wednesday and vowed to restore order "whatever the cost," a government statement said. Ravalomanana ordered a member of his joint chiefs of staff to work with the protesters and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina to maintain the calm. The violence began when protesters stormed the government's radio and television station in the capital Antananarivo on Monday morning in response to the president shutting down Rajoelina's radio station hours earlier. A Red Cross official said at least 34 people have been killed in the violence since Monday. By Wednesday, a relative calm had fallen over the area and Rajoelina's rally at the square was peaceful, a Western observer told CNN.
