ANTANANARIVO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Madagascar security forces fired in the air to disperse opposition vigilante groups in the early hours of Friday and retake control of government ministries seized hours before, authorities said.
Supporters of opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, whose campaign of protests has sparked violence killing 125 people in the last month, marched into four ministries on Thursday to take over offices and install officials loyal to him.
But President Marc Ravolomanana's Internal Security Minister Desire Rasolofomanana said they were ejected overnight from his ministry, plus the buildings for interior and administrative reform, centralisation and regional management, and education.
"The ministries seized by the opposition have been re-taken and the surrounding barriers removed. Civil servants can return to their posts," he said in a televised statement on Friday.
Police said they arrested 50 opposition supporters during the operation.
Church leaders heading negotiations said late on Thursday that both Ravalomanana and Rajoelina had agreed to meet for talks. The opposition leader says the president is a dictator running the nation like his private business.
The worst violence for years on the world's fourth largest island has dented its image as a secure destination for foreign investment, particularly in oil and mining exploration, and is also scaring away tourists.
(Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Louise Ireland)