Ratsiraka flees island - sources

2002-07-05 10:32

Fiona O'Brien

Antsiranana, Madagascar - Former Madagascar ruler Didier Ratsiraka fled the country on Friday as President Marc Ravalomanana's troops advanced towards his last stronghold, diplomatic and airport sources said.

Airport sources said Ratsiraka, who ruled Madagascar for 23 years, left with members of his family on an Antonov plane on Friday morning and was believed to be heading for Seychelles.

"I am absolutely certain the president (Ratsiraka) was on board with two brothers, his son and his wife," an official at the Toamasina Airport control tower said.

Airport sources said two more planes later flew out of Toamasina airport bound for Mauritius, one of them carrying 14 people believed to be former Ratsiraka ministers. The second plane had five occupants, sources said.

Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana have been fighting for the presidency of the island of 16 million people since disputed December elections which Ravalomanana says his rival rigged.

A court recount ruled Ravalomanana was the winner, but Ratsiraka refused to step down.

Ravalomanana received a major boost in the past few days after foreign countries including the United States and France said they would work with his government.

Ravalomanana's army was advancing slowly through the province of Toamasina and army officials said Ratsiraka's militias appeared to have fled.

Pro-Ravalomanana troops has been advancing through the island, and now control all but the eastern province of Toamasina where Ratsiraka, a former admiral, remained with supporters.

"There was a clash near Brickaville on Thursday and I believe one lieutenant-colonel was killed," an officer in the northeren province of Antsiranana, which fell earlier this week, said.

"At the moment, they (Ravalomanana's soldiers) are reorganising to move the action towards Toamasina," he added.

Residents in the eastern province said a major roadblock at Brickaville, which had been manned by armed Ratsiraka militia, appeared to have been deserted.

Ravalomanana's army arrived in the northern city of Antsiranana on Thursday to a hero's welcome from residents who said they had been terrorised by militia loyal to Ratsiraka.

Antsiranana, on the northern tip of the giant Indian Ocean island, was one of Ratsiraka's two remaining strongholds. His soldiers fled before the advancing Ravalomanana troops.

- Reuters