ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) - The African Union (AU) Assembly on Tuesday stressed that the Maputo Agreement and the Addis Ababa Additional Act on Madagascar is the only roadmap for a comprehensive solution to the political crisis in the country, and urges for their speedy implementations.
According to a draft decision on Madagascar by the AU Assembly obtained by Xinhua after the 14th AU summit, the assembly expressed "deep concern" over the continuing political crisis in Madagascar, while urging illegal regime in Madagascar to desist from attempts to impose unilateral solutions to the current crisis.
Meanwhile, the assembly recognized efforts by the AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to restore the constitutional order in the island country.
The pan-African bloc also appealed to the international partners to continue to extend full support to the efforts made towards the solution of the crisis.
Madagascar was plunged into a political crisis in December 2008, when the government led by then President Marc Ravalomanana shut down a TV station owned by Rajoelina, then mayor of Madagascar's capital Antananarivo.
After waves of political protests against the government, Ravalomanana handed over the presidential power to the military in March 2009. Rajoelina then assumed executive power from the military and declared himself president of the High Transitional Authority, confronting international pressure and opposition.
The unconstitutional change of government in the Indian Ocean Island was condemned by the European Union (EU), the United States and other international organization. The SADC suspended Madagascar's membership, denouncing the change of government there as a coup.
After negotiations brokered by international mediators, Rajoelina signed power-sharing agreements with the three other Malagasy political parties in Maputo, Mozambique, last August.
But the agreements were torn up late last year by Rajoelina, who cancelled the appointment of a consensus prime minister and replaced him with senior military officer Colonel Camille Vital. He also unilaterally announced the plan to hold elections in the country in March 20, 2010, which was rejected by his rivals and international mediators.
The three-day AU summit ended here in the Ethiopian capital Tuesday, with African leaders reaching agreements on a series of issues including making joint efforts in developing the continent' s information and communication technologies, maintaining Africa's peace and security while preventing unconstitutional changes of government, as well as putting food security as one of the top priorities in the development agenda.
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