Madagascar leader rejects opposition power claim

By LOVASA RABARY-RAKOTONDRAVONY

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) — Madagascar's isolated president resisted demands to quit Saturday and denied opposition claims that it now controlled the government.
Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina had given President Marc Ravalomanana four hours to dissolve the government and give up the leadership of this poor Indian Ocean island of 20 million people. The opposition moved without resistance into the offices of the prime minister and proclaimed its own premier on Saturday.

"There is only one solution. The resignation of Marc Ravalomanana," Rajoelina told a crowd of about 10,000 jubilant demonstrators.

But Ravalomanana, who has repeatedly waged and won power struggles with opponents, remained defiant even though he no longer has much evident support from the military.
He issued a statement saying that the opposition did not have "the power bestowed by democratic elections."

"This movement is and remains a street protest which uses terror and repression to survive. A self-proclamation does not equate to legitimate power." He said he continued to recognize his own prime minister and not the opposition's choice.
It is the second time Rajoelina, a former disc jockey who became mayor of the capital, has declared himself president. The first time Ravalomonana prevailed, but now his power base has completely disappeared.

The opposition on Thursday proclaimed its own commander in chief of the armed forces without any resistance, and Friday said it gained control of tanks, prompting the president to go on national radio to warn against any assassination attempts. At Saturday's rally, the head of the national assembly who was formerly a close ally of Ravalomonana also called on the president to quit.

Rajoelina said earlier he hoped the handover would be peaceful, seeking to ease the president's fears that he would be assassinated.

"I have clean hands. I have no intention of killing him (Ravalomanana). I have no intention of sending in tanks and soldiers," said Rajoelina who appeared for the first time since going into hiding two weeks ago to evade arrest.

"There is only one solution, the resignation of the head of state," said Jacques Sylla. "As president of the national assembly, I have to recognize reality."

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press.
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