Madagascar peace deal 'very fragile'

There are disagreements over the details of the plan

By Alastair Leithead BBC correspondent in Antananarivo

Madagascar's new peace agreement aimed at settling the four-month-long political crisis is "very fragile", according to the Organisation of African Unity, which helped to broker the deal.

The OAU's Secretary General, Amara Essy, is reportedly sending an envoy to help oversee the Dakar accord which proposes a referendum and a transitional government if a recount of the disputed December presidential elections is inconclusive.

Mr Ratsiraka's supporters are continuing to cut off the capital

Already there are disagreements in Madagascar over the detail of the plan and as yet there is no sign of any of the promises being turned into practical action.

It will come as little surprise to the Malagasy people that the deal hailed as bringing a solution to their country's crisis is considered fragile by one of the key men involved in its conception.

Although their promises are full of compromise and concession from both sides, there is still no detail as to how they will be implemented in the country.

Last card

The key concern is the blockade, manned by supporters of the incumbent President, Didier Ratsiraka, which has cut off the capital Antananarivo from the main port and oil refinery for months now, crippling the economy and isolating the city.

The deal that both presidents signed states that blockades must be lifted.

But there is no sign of this happening, and there is speculation that defences are being reinforced rather than being reduced.

Self-declared President Marc Ravalomanana says he is confident the routes will be opened up again soon.

But few are optimistic, as the blockade is seen as the last card his rival Mr Ratsiraka has left to play in a crisis increasingly going against him.

According to the OAU, neither of the two parties was fully satisfied with the agreement signed in Senegal, and there is even confusion over who is in charge of the country in the period leading up to a recount.