Rival Madagascar presidents to hold talks

AnanovaNews, 15.04.2002

Madagascar's two rival presidents are to hold talks in Senegal aimed at ending a three-month stand-off over disputed elections.

Aides have played down the possibility that the talks brokered by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade could end the crisis.

The stand-off began when opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana, 51, declared himself president after presidential elections on December 16, claiming he had won more than half the vote.

Election observers, churches and civil rights groups agreed the election was flawed but the government of President Didier Ratsiraka said there was no clear winner and demanded a run-off.

Mr Ravalomanana did not intend to negotiate a run-off election, said Guy Rajamison, a close aide.

He told reporters: "He is attending as the president of Madagascar to talk about the economy," adding that Mr Ravalomanana was unhappy he had been invited to the talks as the mayor of the capital Antananarivo.

Mr Ratsiraka was insistent there should be a run-off but had no objection to meeting Mr Ravalomanana, said Jose Andrianoelison, a top government negotiator.

The two rivals last met at a meeting brokered by the Organisation of African Unity on February 13.

Civil rights groups estimated 32 people have died since the beginning of the dispute, during which hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters seized control of Antananarivo and installed alternate ministers appointed by Mr Ravalomanana in government offices.

Mr Ratsiraka, 67, relocated his government to the eastern port city of Toamasina and orchestrated a blockade of roads leading into the capital to cut off the opposition's fuel supplies.

Story filed: 18:07 Monday 15th April 2002