I thought President Ravalomanana voluntarily resigned and  handed over power
to an ill-prepared military to conduct elections. The  military in turn
entrusted power to the people to conduct elections in two  years. What don't the EU,
France, and US understand in that????? I am  shocked. Haruna. And he did not
seize power, he received it. Does the AU,  EU, and US have a policy for
UNCONSTITUTIONAL RECEIPT of POWER? What  constitutes CONSTITUTIONAL????? The Army
averted bloodshed and violence  and ammended the constitution so they can
transfer power to a caretaker  government until elections. What is complicated in
that??? JDAM please  don't justify the comprehensive cluelessness. We know where
France's  interests lie. And I think they are presiding over the EU. But the
US??????? I am thoroughly disappointed.
Courtesy: BBC NEWS.


Pressure grows on Madagascar coup

Marc Ravalomanana's portraits have gone from the  presidential palace

The African Union has suspended Madagascar after the  army forced out the
president and installed the opposition leader in his  place.
Southern African leaders say they may impose sanctions on the Indian  Ocean
island unless legality is restored.
Former colonial power France has also condemned the seizure of power,  while
the US has suspended some aid.
But Madagascar's acting prime minister rejected growing international
criticism of his government.
Although the handover in Madagascar was not a straightforward military
seizure of power, an AU official said it had not been constitutional.


The people demanded liberty and the military  rallied to the popular
movement, but it did not seize power



Roindefo Monja
Transitional prime minister




"The council is of the opinion that what occurred in Madagascar enters  the
definition of unconstitutional change of government," said Burkina  Faso's
Ambassador Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba, Chairman of the AU's Peace and  Security
Council (PSC).
"The council then decided to suspend the participation of Madagascar to  the
bodies and organs of the AU."
The suspension poses a problem for the African Union because Madagascar  is
due to hold its next summit meeting in July.
"If they don't comply it will affect the hosting of the summit,"  Jeffrey
Mugumyia, the AU's PSC director said.
"The sooner they comply the better. But anything can happen in the
meantime."
France and the US both described the takeover as a coup and the US said  it
would block non-humanitarian aid.
Inauguration
President Marc Ravalomanana resigned on Tuesday under pressure from a
section of the army, which insisted that opposition leader Andry  Rajoelina, a
34-year-old former disc-jockey, should take over.

The army handed power to Andry  Rajoelina

Mr Rajoelina  is due to be inaugurated at a ceremony in the capital on
Saturday after  Madagascar's Constitutional Court approved the handover of power.
But Roindefo Monja, prime minister in Rajoelina's transitional
administration, told Reuters news agency the new government stood by its  actions.
"We will explain to the whole world our cause," Mr Monja said via  telephone.

"The people demanded liberty and the military rallied to the popular
movement, but it did not seize power... We are confident the international  community
will understand," he said.
'Abhorrence'
Also on Friday, the Southern African Development Community said it  would
discuss imposing sanctions on Madagascar when they meet in  Johannesburg on 30
March.


Of course it's a coup d'etat



Nicolas Sarkozy
French  president

"We will put  pressure on Madagascar and particularly on those people who
have ousted  the democratically elected leader of that country," South Africa's
Defence  Minister Charles Nqakula was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
"The problem in Madagascar is that Rajoelina seized power
unconstitutionally," he added. "There is a thoroughgoing abhorrence to  this kind of action."
As for the AU, the crucial question was whether Madagascar followed
constitutional procedures when a president resigns - these call for the  head of
parliament's upper house to take over, and for elections within  two months.
As this did not happen, they decided it could be considered a coup.
The AU has suspended both Mauritania and Guinea after military  takeovers in
recent months.
The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa says
Madagascar now has six months to restore constitutional order, or the AU  can impose
sanctions.
She says these would normally target members of the government.
International outcry
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday joined the EU and US in
condemning the power grab.
"Of course it's a coup d'etat," Mr Sarkozy told a news conference at  the end
of a two-day European Union summit in Brussels.
"I greatly regret what has happened in Madagascar and I call for  elections
as soon as possible, which is the only way out of this  imbroglio."
Mr Rajoelina has suspended parliament and set up two transitional  bodies to
run the country.
He says he wants to change the constitution, which at present bars him  from
contesting presidential elections, as he is six years too young.
The BBC's Christina Corbett in the capital Antananarivo says he is  trying to
legitimise himself ahead of his inauguration as transitional  leader on
Saturday.
There is still no word on the whereabouts of Mr Ravalomanana, whose
re-election to a second term in 2006 could not save him from being  ousted.
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