Opposition Supporters Continue Election Protests in Madagascar

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 05, 2002

Opposition Supporters Continue Election Protests in Madagascar

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Hundreds of thousands of supporters of opposition presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana launched new protests Monday in downtown Tananarive, claiming victory of Ravalomanana in the first round of the December 16 presidential elections.

The protesters, hit by a sudden heavy rain, dispersed in the afternoon after six hours of march.

Addressing the crowd, Ravalomanana said that he feared nothing and that the electoral results should be clarified.

"The military should make its decision in face of the current situation," he said, calling on the armed forces to join the protests against incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka.

"Tananarive will be a dead city on Tuesday," said Ravalomanana, calling for full-scale strike and larger protests in coming days.

Ravalomanana claimed he won the first round of the presidential elections with 52.15 percent of the vote. But official results showed Ravalomanana gained 46 percent and Ratsiraka 41 percent, necessitating a run-off.

The country's High Constitutional Court (HCC) ordered on January 25 that a second round should be held by February 24, which was supported by the United Nations Security Council, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and France, the former colonial power on the Indian island.

However, Ravalomanana categorically rejected the HCC order, insisting that the results of the first round should be made clear in the first place.

A delegation of international observers will arrive on Wednesday. OAU Secretary-General Amara Essy also announced he would soon arrive to mediate between the two camps.

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