Strike grounds Air Madagascar
2002-02-12 10:54
Antananarivo - Air Madagascar has suspended all flights for an indefinite period after employees decided to join the national strike which has paralysed the country for the past two weeks.
"Air Madagascar is suspending all flights until further notice," said director-general James Andrianalisoa.
Marc Ravalomanana, the capital's mayor, who stood against
President Didier Ratsiraka during the presidential election on
December 16, called the national strike on January 28.
Ravalomanana insists he won last year's election and alleges
the poll's results were doctored to force a second round,
which he is boycotting.
However, at his request, protesters suspended the strike at
the weekend. As a result, Air Madagascar was able to provide
national and international flights on Saturday and Sunday.
International airlines grounded
Air France, Corsair and the regional company, Air Australe, are unable to fly to Madagascar as long as the strike continues, since Air Madagascar provides the companies' ground staff, who are taking part in the strike.
Since January 28, the general strike has crippled the Madagascan capital, which is the economic and administrative heart of the country.
Each day, hundreds of thousands of protesters take to the
streets in the centre of Antananarivo to demonstrate, and
Ravalomanana called on protesters on Monday to build up the strike.
Amara Essy, head of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), met Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana separately on Sunday in a bid to mediate a way out of the crisis. He met Ravalomanana again early on Monday. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA