Madagascar defence chief quits

Guards stood aside as the ministry was taken over

By Alastair Leithead BBC Correspondent in Madagascar

The armed forces minister in Madagascar's official government has resigned, only hours after his ministry building was taken over by the new administration of self-declared President, Marc Ravalomanana.

The head of incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka's negotiating team, Jose Andrianoelisson, has said he now believes there is no government in Madagascar.

General Jules Mamizara (l) has joined the cabinet of Marc Ravalomanana (r)

The official administration has lost control of the country and the new parallel cabinet lacks the legal or democratic authority to assume power, he said.

And amid the political crisis, an intense tropical cyclone is only hours away from the Indian Ocean island.

The resignation of Armed Forces Minister General Marcel Ranjeva is an indication of how President Ratsiraka's government has now totally lost power in the capital Antananarivo to Mr Ravalomanana.

Disarray

General Ranjeva handed in his resignation after the Armed Forces Ministry was taken over peacefully on Friday by his unofficial successor, General Jules Mamizara, as the military guards stood aside.

Crisis timeline

16 Dec - Presidential election held

7 Jan - Opposition claim rigging, begin daily protests

25 Jan - Result announced, run-off ordered

28 Jan - Opposition strike begins

22 Feb - Ravalomanana declares himself president, PM announces state of emergency

27 Feb - First violent clashes in capital

28 Feb - President imposes martial law in capital

4 Mar - Army lets Ravalomanana's 'ministers' take office

8 Mar - Defence ministry taken over, leaving only PM's office in elected government hands

Only the bureau of the prime minister is not yet in the hands of Mr Ravalomanana.

There has been no official reaction from the incumbent president or his government.

But negotiator Mr Andrianoelisson said he believes that the official administration has lost all power and that the new cabinet does not have the backing of the majority of the country so cannot be classed as legitimate.

It does now appear that with President Ratsiraka's government in disarray, power is moving very quickly towards Mr Ravalomanana.

Which way the military's loyalties lie is still important and with intense Tropical Cyclone Hary heading towards the island this crisis is set to continue.