New bridge 'blown up' in Madagascar

Several bridges have already been sabotaged

By Alastair Leithead BBC correspondent in Madagascar

Another bridge has been destroyed near the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo, according to a spokesman for the newly-proclaimed president, Marc Ravalomanana.

Around half a dozen bridges have now been blown up in the power struggle between Mr Ravalomanana and the long-standing president, Didier Ratsiraka.

Supporters of Mr Ratsiraka have been trying to blockade the capital, which is under the control of Mr Ravalomanana.

The latest bridge reported to have been destroyed is on the main road between Antananarivo and the port-city of Tamatave.

The spokesman for Mr Ravalomanana said supporters of Mr Ratsiraka blew it up as a response to the presidential investiture on Monday.

Stranglehold

The blockade of Antananarivo has been in place on the road for more than two months now, with a container welded across a bridge and patrolled by soldiers loyal to the provincial governor who is strongly pro-Ratsiraka.

Fuel and all exports and imports have been blocked, devastating the economy of the capital and the country.

Ratsiraka does not accept the new president

Mr Ravalomanana's spokesman warned this was going against the spirit of national reconciliation and threatened that if the practice of destroying bridges continued Mr Ravalomanana would pull out of talks being hosted by the Organisation of African Unity in Senegal next week.

Little appears to have changed since the investiture of Mr Ravlomanana except perhaps in both sides' determination not to give ground in this stalemate.

Meanwhile the country's national assembly opened on Tuesday, for the first time since the new president's inauguration - but less than half the deputies attended.