Madagascar Leader To
Disband, Form New Government
Madagascar's
leader has vowed to disband his internationally rejected
government and form an interim body with an ousted opposition
leader following an ultimatum from the army to solve a festering
crisis.
Speaking on the state television, Andry Rajoelina said, his
administration will dissolve the current government and organise
elections within three months, or three and a half months at the
latest to set up a new one.
National union government
He said the Government of National Union will be put in place
after a meeting between Rajoelina and Ravalomanana, which is
expected to take place in South Africa.
Rajoelina has repeatedly set election deadlines and missed.
Increasing pressure
Reports say there has been growing unease in some quarters of
the government and military and increased international pressure
on Andry Rajoelina to solve the crisis, which has unnerved
investors in the island's oil and mineral resources.
The crisis, which began last March after weeks of violent
protests, triggering a year of leadership squabbles on the
world's fourth largest island, has paralysed economic growth,
slashed public spending and pushed up urban unemployment.
Power sharing
A power-sharing deal between Rajoelina, Ravalomanana and two
other former presidents were signed last year, but persistent
wrangling over who should get the top posts led to non-
implementation of the accord.
Exiled former leader Ravalomanana has told his supporters from
South Africa that the only way forward was to implement the
deals reached in Addis Ababa and Maputo.
Army ultimatum
Army chief General Andre Ndriarijoana, who backed Rajoelina in
taking power last year and other army bosses have given
Rajoelina until the end of April to offer an acceptable way out
of the political crisis.
The army did not say what action it would take if Rajoelina
failed.
REUTERS/Williams/Yinka
