Madagascar rivals to meet

2009-10-15 22:35

Antananarivo - The leaders of Madagascar's four main political groups will meet in Geneva at the weekend to set up transitional institutions to restore stability after a coup in March.

The meeting comes after the island's current leader Andry Rajoelina, the president he ousted, Marc Ravalomanana, and former presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy agreed last week to implement a deal on an interim authority.

The four leaders are to gather for the October 17 to 19 talks at the United Nations palace in the Swiss capital.

"We asked the parties to bring their proposals to establish all the institutions. We are determined to begin the consensual transition as soon as possible," Tiebile Drame, the UN mediator to the crisis, told AFP.

Despite last week's deal, which had been delayed by disagreements over distribution of key positions, Ravalomanana said he will not recognise Rajoelina as the transitional leader.

However, in line with the accord, Rajoelina on Sunday fired his prime minister and named a new one.

The four leaders signed an agreement in August in the Mozambican capital Maputo to form a transitional authority, whose implementation had been hobbled by their bickering.
 

- SAPA