The Madagascan security forces have denied committing a massacre in the recent crackdown on cattle rustlers in the south of the Indian Ocean island country.

The denial was made at a meeting of security officials with diplomatic corps in the capital Antananarivo on Wednesday.

"During the 'Tandroka' operation to track down cattle rustlers in the southern parts of the country, there was no massacre or genocide and the actions taken by the security forces were legitimate," the military said.

The declaration came in response to the criticism against the security forces by Christian Mukosa, an official from Amnesty International, who visited Madagascar early this month.

According to Mukosa, the elderly persons, the disabled, children and sick people were unable to flee from their homes when the army "set their homes on fire" during the "Tandroka" operation. He called for an independent inquiry into the incident.

In Wednesday's statement, the security officials said Mukosa never visited the southern parts of the country to see what happened and listen to the testimonies of the local residents.

"During his stay in the country, he stayed in the capital all the time and only received testimonies from people who equally had not gone to the South," the statement added.

The security forces affirmed that the operation launched on Sept. 13 was necessary to end massive attacks against the civilians by armed cattle rustlers.