Madagascar power-sharing talks end without agreement
28 Aug 2009 13:54:14 GMT Source: Reuters
* Talks end without agreement on presidency * Leaders pledge to pick some posts by Sept. 4 * Madagascar to top SADC summit agenda (Updates with quotes from Rajoelina delegation) By Charles Mangwiro MAPUTO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Crisis talks to end months of political turmoil in Madagascar collapsed on Friday as the parties failed to agree who should hold the top jobs in a transitional government. The rivals remained deadlocked over who should hold the presidency of the world's fourth largest island, which is of increasing interest to foreign investors for its oil, bauxite, nickel, cobalt, gold and uranium. "The leaders of the four movements failed to reach a consensus for the key posts of the transition," the talks' mediators said in a statement. The leaders at the discussions in Mozambique's capital Maputo did agree to appoint a president, a vice-president and a prime minister by Sept. 4. Andry Rajoelina, who toppled former leader Marc Ravalomanana in March after weeks of violent street protests culminated in a military-backed coup, demanded the presidency. But that was vigorously opposed by his predecessor. "We made it clear that we don't support the Rajoelina movement heading the transitional government," Ravalomanana told Reuters after the talks failed to reach a conclusion. "His (Rajoelina's) nomination would be an insult to democratic principles. I would prefer a neutral authority to him," Ravalomanana said, adding that he would never recognise Rajoelina as head of state. With less than three years' political experience, 35-year old Rajoelina has said only he can lead the transition. U.N. mediator Tiebile Drame told Reuters that Rajoelina had asked for more time to consult his allies on the demand to concede the prime minister's office in return for the presidency -- a proposal backed by former presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy who also took part in the talks. Ruling out a third round of negotiations in Maputo, Drame declined to speculate on possible reactions by the international community should the Aug. 9 accord's 30-day deadline for building a consensus government expire. "Frankly, we prefer not to think about this scenario," Drame said by telephone. "There will be no Maputo III. We expect to receive Rajoelina's answer by email by Sept 4. at the latest." Norbert Ratsirahonana, a senior member of Rajoelina's delegation, told reporters his side needed to confer with its supporters: "It's possible our position will change, but that will depend on discussions," he said at Antananarivo airport. Madagascar is expected to top the agenda at a Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit due to be held in the Democratic Republic of Congo next week. But analysts question how much leverage the SADC and the African Union (AU) -- which have both suspended Madagascar -- have on the island's leaders. A diplomatic source said frozen development aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars from the International Monetary Fund, the United States and European Union was likely to carry more sway than pressure from regional trading partners. (For a Q+A on the Madagascar crisis click on [ID:nLS102602]) (Additional reporting by Lovasoa Rakotondravony and Richard Lough; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina (C) attends the second round of talks with the ousted president Marc Ravalomanana (not pictured) in the Mozambican capital Maputo, August 25, 2009. Madagascar's political rivals met ...
