'Little hope' in Madagascar talks
2010-04-29 09:53
Pretoria - Madagascar strongman Andry Rajoelina said there was "little chance" of setting up a national unity government to end the African island nation's political crisis as talks broke off early on Thursday.
"There is a gap between reality and the agreement that has already been established," Rajoelina told reporters, adding that the talks in the South African capital would resume later in the day.
"I think there is little chance of setting up a government of national unity and solutions must be sought elsewhere," he said.
Leaders of Madagascar's rival political factions met in a new bid to forge a deal on a unity government to lead the country out of the crisis sparked when Rajoelina overthrew president Marc Ravalomanana in March 2009.
The talks are the latest in a series of meetings between the Ravalomanana and Rajoelina factions, and former presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy.
"There are demands that I cannot accept from the former president (Ravalomanana)," Rajoelina, a 35-year-old former disc jockey, said.
Earlier he told AFP: "I am ready to form a government with the other political forces, including the former president and even the other presidents, to head toward elections."
Rajoelina said legislative elections should be held within several months and a presidential election in November.
South African President Jacob Zuma, lead mediator Joaquim Chissano and African Union commission chairman Jean Ping met separately on Wednesday with the four Malagasy leaders.
Fresh elections
Rajoelina seized control of the vast Indian Ocean island in March 2009 after weeks of sometimes violent street protests, ousting Ravalomanana with the military's blessing.
The four political leaders had signed a power-sharing accord that was later spurned by Rajoelina, prompting the African Union to slap travel and economic bans on him and scores of his backers last month.
Former colonial power France and the 15-member Southern African Development Community are mediating the talks aimed at setting up a unity government that would lead Madagascar toward fresh elections, a source within Ravalomanana's movement said.
In November, Rajoelina inked a power-sharing agreement with Ravalomanana, who lives in exile in South Africa, and the other two ex-presidents at the African Union's headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Under the agreement, Rajoelina was to retain the presidency but with two "co-presidents" from the other political movements.
The four rivals also agreed to establish a transitional institution ahead of elections.
But Rajoelina has since spurned the accords, sacked a compromise prime minister and announced the country would hold elections.
Disagreements between the four leaders on the allocation of seats in the agreed unity government also wrecked the implementation of their agreements.