Madagascar's leaders to meet

2009-10-13 10:09

Antananarivo - Madagascar's leaders will meet next weekend to hammer out the final details of a power-sharing deal brokered to end months of political turmoil on the Indian Ocean Island, the United Nations said on Monday.

Madagascar's former leader Marc Ravalomanana opposed last week's re-shuffle of key posts that sees Andry Rajoelina, who seized power in a March coup, retain the presidency.

"Let me point out that a strong objection is not a rejection. We've noted the objection and it is there to be sorted out," Tiebile Drame, UN special envoy to Madagascar, told reporters.

Rajoelina, Ravalomanana and former presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy - have been deadlocked on who should lead the world's fourth largest island since negotiations in Mozambique in August paved the way for a consensus government.

Drame said all four protagonists had agreed to attend. He said he hoped they would pick new ministers and name the heads of interim institutions including the two parliamentary chambers.

This year's political instability has hurt the economy and alarmed foreign investors.

Spirit of the Maputo accord

Ravalomanana, who is exiled in South Africa, has said endorsing Rajoelina as head of state would legitimise the military-backed power-grab. But some analysts said his hard-line stance is leaving him increasingly isolated.

Local commentators have said international mediators may consider breaking the impasse by accepting signatures on the deal from just the other three leaders, sidelining Ravalomanana - a move Drame refused to rule out.

Over the weekend, Rajoelina bowed to international pressure and formally replaced his former prime minister with a relatively unknown social anthropology professor, Eugene Mangalaza.

"Prime Minister Eugene Mangalaza is for us, the international community, not a prime minister borne out of insurrection. His premiership conforms to the spirit of the Maputo accord," Drame said.

Sacked Prime Minister Monja Roindefo has refused to step down. Earlier, he filed a legal petition accusing Rajoelina of abuse of power in firing him.

Drame said the meeting would most likely be held in a European city between October 17 and 19.

- Reuters