Newly-appointed Prime Minister Monja Roindefo along with coup-leader and self-appointed president Andry Rajoelina. The African Union has demanded that Rajoelina relinquish power to the rightful President Marc Ravalomanana who was overthrown months ago.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
By VOA News
06 October 2009
The African Union is calling on Madagascar's political rivals to stick to an August power-sharing deal, saying "there is no other alternative" to ending the country's political crisis.
AU commissioner Jean Ping made the remarks Tuesday in Antananarivo, where he met with fellow mediators on the International Contact Group for Madagascar.
Mr. Ping assembled the foreign envoys to discuss ways of restoring political order to the island nation.
Police fired tear gas to disperse a small number of protesters who had gathered outside the meeting.
Madagascar's current leader, Andry Rajoelina, ousted President Marc Ravalomanana with the military's help in March.
Mr. Rajoelina formed his own administration in September after the four main political factions could not agree who would hold top positions.
The African Union says the move violates the August 9 accord, which requires all sides to agree on appointments to an interim government.
Both the AU and the Southern African Development Community have refused to recognize Mr. Rajoelina as president.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
Madagascar police use tear gas on protesters
(AP) ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Police have dispersed protesters with tear gas outside a meeting of mediators who hope to smooth over Madagascar's post-coup political turmoil.
African Union commissioner Jean Ping says the third meeting of African Union and southern African mediators on Tuesday hopes to reach a peaceful political solution after a coup in March.
Military-backed politician Andry Rajoelina overthrew President Marc Ravalomanana, who is now in exile. Rajoelina drew criticism from other African governments for unilaterally forming a new government in September, violating an accord that demands that all parties agree on appointments.
Mediators resume talks on Madagascar crisis
(AFP) ANTANANARIVO — The International Contact Group for Madagascar resumed talks on Tuesday to push for the implementation of agreements to end the island nation's political crisis.
Madagascar's four main political groups signed a deal in August in the Mozambican capital Maputo to form an interim authority, but have since disagreed over the distribution of key positions.
The island's leader Andry Rajoelina, who in March toppled president Marc Ravalomanana, unilaterally named a transitional government in disregard of the Maputo accord. This has been an obstacle to progress.
But at the weekend, Rajoelina said he would honour the August agreement and accept a new prime minister agreed on by his rivals on condition the international community lifts sanctions and backs the transitional process.
"There is no other alternative to Maputo," said Jean Ping, the African Union commission chief who also heads the contact group, referring to the August agreement.
Ping said Rajoelina's weekend comments would be discussed in Tuesday's meeting, the third by the international contact group since April.
"We are going to study how to implement a return to constitutional order," Ping said.
The four political groups include those of Rajoelina, Ravalomanana and former presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy who were represented by delegations at the talks in Antananarivo.
In addition to Ping, the International Contact Group is made up of former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano and representatives from the United Nations, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the Indian Ocean Commission, the European Union, France and the United States.
The Indian Ocean island has been mired in a political crisis since early this year following months of anti-government protests that culminated when Rajoelina toppled his rival on March 17 with the army's backing.
New PM likely to be appointed at mediation talks
2009-10-06 10:47 TU
Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina is expected to name a new Prime Minister at a meeting with the International Contact Group on Madagascar which began on Tuesday morning in the country's capital, Antananarivo.
"We are going to study how to implement a return to constitutional order," said African Union chief Jean Ping, who heads the conciliation efforts.
Ping insisted that there is no alternative to the agreement reached in the Mozabican capital, Maputo, in August. There the four main political groups agreed to form an interim authority but they have since fallen out over who will hold key positions.
Rajoelina, who unilaterally named a transitional government with Monja Roindefo as Prime Minister after the Maputo talks, said on Sunday that he will now implement the deal. But he named two conditions - international sanctions must be lifted and foreign powers must give written commitments to support an election as part of the transitional process.
A small group of demonstrators declared support for Roindefo outside Tuesday's meeting.
Rajeolina took power, with army backing, in March.
The mediators will meet representatives of Rajeolina and deposed President Marc Ravalomanana, as well as two former Presidents, Albert Zafy and Didier Ratsikara, who are expected to play a key role in negotiations.
In addition to Ping, the International Contact Group is made up of former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano and representatives from the UN, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the Indian Ocean Commission, the European Union, France and the US.
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