Madagascar awaits election recount

By Alastair Leithead
BBC correspondent in Tamatave, Madagascar

Madagascar's High Constitutional Court (HCC) will publish the recounted results of the country's presidential election on Monday as part of a deal designed to end the country's political and economic crisis.
But incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka says that he will not accept the result, because he does not recognise the HCC as a legal body.

Provincial governors who support him have threatened to split the country into a series of independent states if the challenger, Marc Ravalomanana, wins the recount.

The Dakar accords signed by the two men calls for a recount and for all economic blockades to be lifted, but President Ratsiraka has refused to lift the road-blocks isolating the capital and crippling the economy.

He accused the HCC of being illegally reappointed and biased toward Mr Ravalomanana and has said he will not accept its decision.

If Mr Ravalomanana receives more than 50% of the vote in a recount he will become president.

If there is no clear majority a transitional government will lead the country to an internationally monitored referendum within six months.

Trouble ahead

By refusing to accept the HCC's recount, President Ratsiraka is going against the deal, signed 10 days ago in the Senegalese capital, Dakar.

He has also refused to lift blockades that have been isolating the capital for two months, something else the accord indicates should happen immediately.

Whatever the outcome, Madagascar is facing an even deeper crisis.

If Mr Ravalomanana fails to win a majority in the recount his supporters will be angry and the country faces a torrid six months before the issue is finally and a president inaugurated.

If Mr Ravalomanana wins, the country could be split and there is a real threat of increased violence or even civil war.