Madagascar's Ravalomanana advances in north

By Fiona O'Brien

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters 28.06.2002) - Militias are terrorising residents in north Madagascar and resisting forces loyal to Marc Ravalomanana that are advancing on areas still controlled by his rival for the presidency, military sources said on Friday.

Ravalomanana, who won U.S. backing on Wednesday and was named president after a court recount of disputed December elections, controls four of the Indian Ocean island's six provinces, but is still battling for power with veteran ruler Didier Ratsiraka in the remaining two.

Ratsiraka, who accuses Ravalomanana of seizing power unconstitutionally, says he is still rightful president and has rebased in his home province of Toamasina, on the east coast.

Ravalomanana's forces are fighting for control of the northernmost province of Antsiranana, where they have already taken several strategic towns. They are now advancing towards the provincial capital Antsiranana, and say they hope to have secured it in the next few days.

Ravalomanana's chief of military staff, General Sylvain Razafimandimby, said his troops were advancing up the west of the province, taking the towns of Ambilobe and Anivorano, and had already made their first incursions into Antsiranana itself.

"Once contact has been established, we think we will have finished cleaning up between now and Sunday," he told Reuters. "(By then) we will be established and have reorganised the town...At the moment there is terror in the town."

There were reports that pro-Ratsiraka militias, led by Antsiranana's governor Jean Robert Gara and hardline Lieutenant- Colonel Coutiti, were terrorising the local population, mounting armed robberies, raping women and looting small businesses in the provincial capital.

"Since Monday, well-armed elements have undertaken a vast campaign of extortion, vandalism and looting small and large businesses, jewellers, bar-owners, whatever their race or ethnicity," the Express newspaper said.

Papers said Ravalomanana's advance had been slowed by strong resistance on high ground outside Antsiranana. The Midi newspaper quoted Gara as telling private radio stations that he would "never abandon his post".

It was not clear how many people had been killed or wounded in the fighting. News from the remote corners of the giant island off southeast Africa is slow to travel to the capital. Rumours -- mostly reported by pro-Ravalomanana newspapers -- are difficult to confirm.

GAME OVER?

Madagascar has been in crisis since December, when Ravalomanana, a millionaire businessman who was mayor of Antananarivo, accused Ratsiraka of cheating in elections.

Attempts at political negotiations failed, and in the absence of international support Ravalomanana said he had no option but to take the provinces by force.

Most areas fell peacefully, but some Ratsiraka loyalists have refused to give in.

Analysts say the game is all but over for Ratsiraka, a 65-year-old former admiral who has ruled the island for more than 20 years. The United States said this week it would conduct all matters of state with his younger rival.

In the capital Antananarivo, Ravalomanana's stronghold, life is beginning to return to normal after months of disruption. Ratsiraka supporters mounted roadblocks to starve the capital of vital supplies, but they have now been dismantled and goods like fuel and gas are starting to trickle back in.

Electricity supplies to the capital are severely disrupted after saboteurs believed to be pro-Ratsiraka blew up pylons supplying the city.

Analysts say Ravalomanana's real test will be whether he can deliver on his promises to develop Madagascar, one of the world's poorest countries. His government has so far been almost entirely preoccupied with the crisis, and has not elaborated on its policies.