Madagascar rivals set for talks

BBC 08.06.2002

The two men at the heart of the power struggle in Madagascar have arrived in Senegal for talks aimed at ending their political feud.

Veteran leader Didier Ratsiraka arrived in the Senegalese capital Dakar on Saturday, as did his rival Marc Ravalomanana - who was declared president last month after disputed elections in December.

It is hoped their meetings with mediators will result in a new political agreement and an economic reconstruction plan.

Mr Ratsiraka has led Madagascar for most of the past three decades, but refused to hand over power after the elections.

Mediators will initially hold separate discussions with the two rivals, and then put forward a plan to supersede a previous agreement they signed in April.

That deal was never implemented, and a follow-up meeting was repeatedly postponed.

The BBC's southern Africa correspondent Alastair Leithead says the level of frustration among ordinary Madagascans has forced both leaders to try to break the impasse.

Army allegiance

On Friday, the Madagascar army came under the control of President Ravalomanana, who was sworn in last month, after the chief of staff named by Mr Ratsiraka handed over power to a new general.

"I now hold the reins of power, there is no turning back," Mr Ravalomanana said in a speech to mark the occasion.

A foreign military expert who watched the ceremony told the French news agency AFP it could mark a turning point in the crisis, prompting troops to choose which camp they are loyal to.

French-trained elite commandos, the Rapid Intervention Force (RFI), have remained loyal to Mr Ratsiraka throughout the dispute.

They were dispatched on Monday to retake Sambava and the surrounding vanilla-producing region of Diego Suarez after an incursion by pro-Ravalomanana forces.