Presidential election takes place in Madagascar after weeks of unrest

A man casts his vote in the presidential election in Antananarivo (Alexander Joe/AP)

People in Madagascar have trickled to polling stations as voting opened in a presidential election boycotted by the majority of candidates following weeks of unrest and court battles.

In the capital of Antananarivo, where a night-time curfew ended two hours before voting started, many people said they were heeding calls by a collective of 10 candidates to stay away from polling stations.