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Split over leadership looms
30/04/2002 08:54 - (SA)
Antananarivo - Fears Madagascar's leadership crisis could split the island into separate states are growing on Tuesday after regional governors rejected a ruling declaring oppositionist Marc Ravalomanana president.
Provincial leaders loyal to embattled President Didier Ratsiraka threatened to divide the vast Indian Ocean island into "independent states" after a court said results of a recount of disputed December polls showed Ravalomanana had won.
Madagascar is already divided between the capital Antananarivo, controlled by Ravalomanana, and sections of the provinces dominated by Ratsiraka loyalists.
Governors said they were studying plans to break away from the government in the capital of the island of 15 million, and a section of army officers rallied behind the idea.
"A new meeting between President Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana is necessary so they can study together the plan to...establish in Madagascar a 'Confederation of six independent States'," Samuel Lahady, governor of Toamasina province, told a news conference.
Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana agreed to the recount at a meeting in Senegal earlier in April, but Ratsiraka later said he would reject the results, accusing the court of bias.
The High Constitutional Court said Ravalomanana, a dairy tycoon who started out tending cows, had won 51.46 percent of the vote, while Ratsiraka had taken 35.90 percent.
Ratsiraka, one of Africa's longest serving heads of state, was expected to break his silence over the new results with a statement later on Tuesday.
Ravalomanana organised massive rallies in January to protest against election results showing neither man had won an absolute majority in the December 16 poll, accusing Ratsiraka of using dirty tricks to deny him victory and extend his 23-year rule.
Those official results gave Ravalomanana 46.21 percent and Ratsiraka 40.89 percent.
Ravalomanana, the mayor of Antananarivo, rode a wave of popular support to declare himself president on February 22, before using demonstrators to seize government ministries.
Peaceful protests degenerated into clashes between rival groups of protesters and security forces in which up to 60 people have been killed, according to Health Ministry figures.
Analysts fear any further hardening of Ratsiraka's position could lead to more bloodshed on the island off southeast Africa, where blockades mounted by the former admiral's supporters have paralysed the impoverished nation's industries.
- Reuters
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