Madagascar rivals head for talks

BBC News - 16.04.2002

The two rival presidents of Madagascar have gone to the Senegalese capital Dakar in an effort to resolve the increasingly violent political crisis on the island.

The self-declared president, Marc Ravalomanana, and the incumbent, Didier Ratsiraka, were invited by the Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade, for peace talks on the sidelines of a development summit in Dakar.

It will be the first meeting between the two rivals since Mr Ravalomanana, the opposition candidate December's disputed presidential election, declared himself victorious in February.

Mr Ratsiraka says neither candidate won outright and there should be a run-off.

The country is deeply divided, with rival governments, two capitals and splits in the armed forces.

Rising violence

Mr Ravalomanana, who controls the capital, Antananarivo, flew to Dakar on Monday.

Mr Ratsiraka, whose supporters have set up a rival capital in the port city of Tamatave, left Madagascar on Tuesday.

The conflict has grown increasingly bloody in recent weeks.

About 35 people have been killed so far, and observers fear pockets of war breaking out across the island.

On Monday one man is reported to have died and about 40 others were wounded in clashes between security forces loyal to Mr Ratsiraka and supporters of Mr Ravalomanana in the town of Mahajanga, about 600 km (375 miles) north-west of Antananarivo.

The clash occurred after pro-Ravalomanana supporters met in defiance of a local ban on large gatherings.

Stranglehold

At the weekend, five soldiers were killed and 18 others injured in a struggle for control of the key town of Fianarantsoa, south of Antananarivo.

Last week, an aide to Mr Ratsiraka died after being taken into custody in Antananarivo by security forces loyal to Mr Ravalomanana.

Supporters of Mr Ratsiraka have imposed an economic blockade on the capital, Antananarivo.

This has led to shortages of fuel and essential commodities in the city.

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) has already tried to get the two sides to talk.

OAU teams visited Antananarivo in February and March, but both missions failed.