Marc Ravalomanana

 Jacques Sylla, who serves as prime minister in self-proclaimed president Marc Ravalomanana's cabinet, says their parallel government will continue despite an agreement signed Thursday between the opposition leader and incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka.

 The accord calls for a recount of the December vote, and if neither party emerges a clear victor, new elections within six months. The agreement also provides for a transitional government until new elections. Mr. Sylla also called on Mr. Ratsiraka and his supporters to abide by a provision in the accord that calls for the removal of barricades which have cut off the capital, Antananarivo, from the rest of the island nation. The capital has been the base of Mr. Ravalomanana's support. The opposition leader and President Ratsiraka signed a power-sharing agreement after talks in Senegal Thursday.

 New elections will be overseen by representatives of the Organization of African Unity, the United Nations and the European Union. Madagascar has been in turmoil since Mr. Ravalomanana, the popular mayor of Antananarivo, declared himself president on February 22. He refused a court-ordered runoff vote saying, Ratsiraka supporters rigged the first election which, he says, he had won outright.

 In the ensuing dispute, the two men are presiding over rival governments in separate cities. Civilians and soldiers have taken sides, and at least 32 people have been killed in the violence, provoking fears of civil war in the Indian Ocean island nation.
 
 

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP. 

Email this article to a friend.
Printer Friendly Version