Madagascar president breaks silence

The president enjoys wider support in the countryside

Madagascar's incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka has said a second round of presidential elections will go ahead despite opposition demands that he step down.

Let us go to the second round, it's enough, I am fed up of this

President Didier Ratsiraka

The president has remained largely silent since the first round of voting in December, which opposition candidate Marc Ravalomanana alleges was rigged.

But on Friday, he rejected those accusations, telling reporters he would obey a high court ruling that neither candidate won the first round outright, necessitating a second ballot.

His comments came as a group of about 60 armed government supporters reportedly blockaded a major supply route to the capital Antananarivo, demanding that the opposition call off a general strike.

Madagascar has been paralysed by the strike, organised along with mass protests to demand that Mr Ravalomanana be declared president.

Competing demands

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has telephoned both President Ratsiraka and Mr Ravalomanana to appeal for a resolution to the island's political stalemate.

The opposition has demanded an official recount under international supervision of the differing tallies in the first round.

But the president was adamant that a second round of voting would go ahead as planned on 24 February, and called for an end to the massive protests that have gripped the capital.

The president is determined to go to a second round

Determined to show an alternative pro-government view of public opinion, the president flew international journalists to a village in the east of the island, where hundreds had gathered in support of their leader.

"Let us go to the second round, it's enough, I am fed up of this," he said. "I am a patriot I am a nationalist, I look for the interests of Madagascar."

Campaigning is due to begin on Saturday.

Hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters were again on the streets of Antananarivo on Friday in support of Mr Ravalomanana, who is also the capital's mayor.

He said on Thursday that he was ready to hold talks with President Ratsiraka, but added that he had not yet requested a meeting.

Blockade

Meanwhile, reports said the armed men blocking the road between Antananarivo and the port of Toamasina said that they would only lift the blockade on the orders of President Ratsiraka.

The opposition protests have brought the capital to a standstill

The port provides the sole supply route for petrol imports to the city, which is Mr Ravalomanana's main power base.

The group demanded an end to the opposition-led general strike, which is beginning to take a serious toll on the island's economy.

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have estimated that the stoppage, which has entered its second week, is costing the country up to $14m a day.