28 Aug 2009
Failure of power-sharing talks in Madagascar has fueled fears of more political instability in the country despite agreement on minor government posts.

International negotiations meant to settle on the power crisis in the West Indian Ocean island nation of Madagascar closed inconclusively on Friday after African mediators announced that they have been unsuccessful to form an approved transitional administration.

"The international joint mediation team regrets to inform ... (that) the heads of the movements have found it impossible to come to a consensus on the key posts of the transition," AFP quoted the mediator's statement issued in Maputo, Mozambique after the mediation efforts intended to decide on top government jobs including the president, the prime minister and the vice-president remain unresolved.

The latest development comes in the wake of a Wednesday statement in which opposition leaders had agreed upon 70 percent of administrative positions in the government.

During earlier discussions, Madagascar's opposition leaders, the deposed Marc Ravalomanana and the incumbent President Andry Rajoelina, had along with former presidents Zafy and Didier Ratsiraka, agreed to hold elections by the turn of 2010.

They have also agreed to set September 4 as the final date to introduce a transitional government before the elections.

Rajoelina, who toppled Ravalomanana in a military-brokered coup earlier this year, has recently reignited controversies for his comments in which he had deemed himself as the sole leader capable of piloting the state through the current political crisis.

Uncertainties about the interim government have sparked concerns of new unrests in the country as Madagascan political rift deepens.


presstv