Ping Seeks Compromise in Madagascar

Jean Ping of Gabon is the current Chair of the African Union Commission. He has expressed the notion that Chad and Sudan will not go to war.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos

Ping seeks compromise in Madagascar

By Alain Iloniaina

Antananarivo - The African Union's top diplomat, Jean Ping, opened talks seeking an end to Madagascar's year-long political crisis on Thursday with a call to its feuding leaders to respect last year's power-sharing deals.

An AU document containing compromise proposals and seen by Reuters urged the formation of a consensus government and said the institutions set out in last year's accords "must be established and made operational without delay".

The consensus prime minister, Eugene Mangalaza, who was dismissed by President Andry Rajoelina last month, should be re-appointed, it said, adding that legislative and presidential elections should be held by October.

Two of the four main political movements confirmed they had received the document from Ping. It was not immediately clear whether this was a final compromise or the starting point for negotiations.

Rajoelina, Africa's youngest leader, has in recent weeks torn up a series of internationally brokered power-sharing deals, appointed a military prime minister and is intent on unilaterally organising legislative elections in March.

There are concerns in the opposition and among donor countries that an election hastily organised by a government not recognised internationally will not be free and fair.

"Elections must be held within a time frame that allows for the guarantee of their credibility and transparency," the document said. - Reuters

Reuters

Published on the Web by IOL on 2010-01-21 22:29:05