Madagascar’ President, Andry Rajoelina, has dissolved his cabinet amid bloody protests over power and water scarcity.

To douse tension as youths hit the streets to protest against his government’s failure to provide stable power and water, Mr Rajoelina dissolved his cabinet in a TV address on Monday.

“I understand the anger, the sadness and the difficulties caused by power cuts and water supply problems,” he said, Mr Rajoelina said. “I heard the call, I felt the suffering, I understood the impact on daily life.”

Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and the cabinet ministers had been relieved of their duties based on the broadcast.

About 20 people died when police clamped down on protesters as protests against water shortage and poor power supply broke out in the island nation.

In a statement on Monday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, lamented the death of at least 22 people and hundred injured during the protests.

Mr Türk expressed shock at the violent response by security forces to the ongoing protests.

“The authorities must ensure respect for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” he said.