Rajoelina seeks recognition

2009-05-20 08:22

Antananarivo - Madagascar's army-backed president embarks on a three-nation tour of West and North Africa on Wednesday, a day after returning emboldened from talks with Libyan leader and African Union chairman Muammar Gaddafi.

Andry Rajoelina has been fighting for international legitimacy since he ousted the Indian Ocean island's former leader Marc Ravalomanana in March with the help of the military.

Madagascar has been suspended by the African Union (AU) and the regional Southern African Development Community trade bloc, which both denounced the former DJ's rise to power as a coup.

"(He) did not choose these visits. He has been invited by the Senegalese and Algerian presidents, as well as the king of Morocco," said Rajoelina's spokesperson Annick Rajaona.

Illegal regime

Despite the AU suspension, which still stands, Rajoelina returned to Madagascar from Tripoli on Tuesday saying he had won the support of Gaddafi.

While Rajoelina's recent charm offensive has focused on North Africa, his rival Ravalomanana has been lobbying for support in the south of the continent.

In a video posted by his office on YouTube late on Tuesday, the former president accused Madagascar's new government of being intent on killing democracy and crushing human rights.

"Diplomatic recognition of the illegal regime must be withheld and business dealings with the illegitimate regime must be avoided," Ravalomanana said in the video.

The international community has called for presidential elections on the world fourth-biggest island by the end of 2009. Several donors, including the International Monetary Fund, the United States and Norway, have suspended non-emergency aid.

- Reuters