Africa News Summary : News Headlines : Discussion Forums

Monday, June 10, 2002 - Web posted at 9:45:25 am GMT

By Diadie Ba

DAKAR, June 10 (Reuters) - An African-brokered meeting to defuse Madagascar's increasingly violent crisis fell apart after rival claimants to the presidency failed to agree on a power-sharing proposal for the huge Indian Ocean island.

Marc Ravalomanana and Didier Ratsiraka came face-to-face on Sunday for the first time since April at an encounter organised by African heads of state under pressure to end strife so the continent can push on with an ambitious revival plan.

A mediating team of five presidents proposed parliamentary elections be held before the end of the year, as scheduled, and that in the meantime the two camps should share power in an interim government.

Madagascar is split between Ravalomanana, a millionaire who was sworn in as president on May 6, and Ratsiraka, the former admiral who ruled the island of 16 million people for more than two decades.

Ravalomanana was declared winner of disputed December elections by a court in April after a recount agreed by the two at previous talks in Senegal, but Ratsiraka called the court biased and refused to quit.

Neither side put its signature to the African proposal.

But Ratsiraka's side said in a statement that it "deplored the fact that Marc Ravalomanana and his delegation refused the setting up of a government of transition and reconciliation."

A Ravalomanana aide, Evariste Marson, told reporters "we are going to study the proposal and we will give our response within two weeks."

PROPOSAL UNCLEAR ON PRESIDENCY

The proposal was not clear on the vital issue of who was considered to be president, but suggested that Ravalomanana name a new prime minister while other key portfolios in an interim government would be shared between the two sides.

Senegalese officials said the proposal would now go forward for consideration by the Organisation of African Unity.

"The proposal of the heads of state is going to prolong the status quo on the ground," said Jaona Ravaloson, a Madagascan politician who was part of the mediation process and came from neither of the two main camps.

African leaders are under extra pressure to find a solution because of attempts to put in place the NEPAD development plan that calls for huge foreign support in exchange for using peer pressure to end crises on the beleaguered continent.

Ravalomanana controls the capital Antananarivo and a province in the southeast of the island, which is the size of Spain and Portugal combined.

Ratsiraka retains the loyalty of governors in the remaining four provinces.

The crisis, which started in January with mass rallies in the capital in favour of Ravalomanana, has degenerated into an increasingly violent confrontation, in which at least 60 people have reportedly been killed in sporadic clashes.

Ravalomanana said on Friday he had ordered military forces under his control to dismantle barricades manned for months by Ratsiraka supporters, who are blockading the capital.

Fighting flared in the north of the impoverished country in the last week, when Ravalomanana's forces mounted an offensive to gain control of areas loyal to Ratsiraka. Nampa-Reuters

•  Big Brother Africa 3: Uti has left the building....THE viewers have spoken.
•  Big Brother Africa 3: Uti has left the building....THE viewers have spoken.
•  Big Brother Africa 3: Lucille rocks the club!