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Chiefs of Madagascan political camps to meet in Addis Ababa in November
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Tuesday, 20 October 2009 |
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October 20, 2009 -- The chiefs of four Madagascan political camps will probably meet in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, from November 3 to 5 which is aimed at ending the current political crisis in the island country, media reports said here on Monday.
However, Tiebilé Dramé, the United Nations special envoy to Madagascar, said here on Sunday that nothing was yet official concerning this meeting. The chiefs are transitional president Andry Rajoelina and former presidents Marc Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy. Former president Ravalomanana welcomed the meeting to be held in Addis Ababa. "We hope that the talk in Addis Ababa, early November, but not late this month, will lead to set up a neutral transitional government, which will be in charge of the preparation of the election", he said on Sunday afternoon during his telephone conversation with his supporters. However, Ravalomanana insisted "I cannot accept a put schist to lead the transition. I don't want that Madagascar becomes a bad example in the world." Quoted by l'Express, a French-language daily published on Monday, Ange Andrianarisoa from Ratsiraka's camp said that he was not yet informed of this new meeting between the four camps with the international community. Transitional Vice Prime minister Emmanuel Rakotovahiny, who is from Zafy's camp, confirmed that Zafy's camp is ready to go to Addis Ababa. Madagascan vice Prime minister in Charge of Foreign Affairs NyHasina Andriamanjato, who is from Rajoelina's camp, said that the proposition of this meeting in Addis Ababa exists but any date is not yet fixed. The political crisis in Madagascar began in December last year when Ravalomanana closed a radio and television station which belonged to Rajoelina for broadcasting a speech of Ratsiraka against Ravalomanana. Backed by the armed forces, Rajoelina came to power in March this year following two-month massive demonstrations against Ravalomanana who came to power in 2002. Ravalomanana has been living in exile in Swaziland and South Africa since March 25 this year, four days after Rajoelina was sworn in before the High Constitutional Court as president of the High Transitional Authority. Xinhua |
