Madagascar leader will pick new PM if aid unblocked
05 Oct 2009 11:09:34 GMT Source: Reuters
* Rajoelina demands donors unblock aid * Says prepared to pick new prime minister * Opposition say merely a delaying tactic (Adds diplomatic source, details) By Alain Iloniaina ANTANANARIVO, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Madagascar's internationally-shunned president said he would stick to the terms of a power-sharing deal struck in August if donors freed up frozen aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Andry Rajoelina, 35, who seized power in a March coup, also said he was prepared to chose a new prime minister. "If the international community can promise it will help us and that it will remove all the sanctions it wants to impose on Madagascar, then it will be possible to put in place the transitional charter," he said in a statement late on Sunday. Political turmoil has convulsed the world's fourth largest island -- which is eyed by foreign investors for its oil, nickel, cobalt, gold, uranium coal and ilmenite -- since early 2009 when the former DJ toppled President Marc Ravalomanana with the aid of dissidents in the military. International powers have called the power-grab unconstitutional and a diplomatic source on Monday said Rajoelina's demands made no sense: "To suggest we have to give him this money or he won't hold elections suggests a complete misunderstanding about what the money is for." "Rajoelina is totally divorced from reality." Under the terms of the so-called Maputo accord, the signatories -- Rajoelina, Ravalomanana and former presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy -- would pick a president, prime minister and three vice-prime ministers. Analysts say political ambition and personal interests prevented the rivals agreeing on how to divide the posts. The political crisis has sent economic growth spiralling towards contraction while forex reserves have dwindled. The local unit has depreciated and food prices have shot up. Rajoelina demanded in writing: "that there will be funds made available to carry out elections and the return of aid, such as the EU aid worth 300 million euros and the World Bank's contribution worth as much as 180 million euros." The government has not yet confirmed whether it will attend an International Contact Group meeting in Antananarivo on Tuesday. The three opposition movements have said they will. "This (demand) is a delaying tactic. Why not simply return to the negotiating table," Fetison Andrianirina, a close ally of Ravalomanana, told Reuters. Zafy's camp said Rajoelina must make the first move. "We have to stick to the Maputo deal. Once this accord is implemented, the financial sanctions will be removed," said Emmanuel Rakotovahiny, head of Zafy's delegation. Prime Minister Monja Roindefo, seen by many observers as a government hardliner, said on Saturday that a consensus government was not viable. [ID:nL4512149] (Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Matthew Jones)
