Madagascar's Self-Declared President Names Prime Minister

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, February 27, 2002

Madagascar's Self-Declared President Names Prime Minister

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Madagascar's opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana, who declared himself president last Friday, named Jacques Sylla as his prime minister Tuesday to head a government parallel to the one serving incumbent President Dider Ratisiraka.

Sylla was foreign minister in the early 1990s under Madagascar's then president Albert Zafy.

"We will start the consultations starting from this afternoon. My government will be an open government," said Sylla, adding that his priority was to put the administration back into functioning from general protests and strikes launched by supporters of Ravalomanana since the end of January.

The military, which did not voice support for Ravalomanana and his government, has promised to preserve neutrality.

Ravalomanana declared himself president on Friday after negotiations chaired by the Organization of the African Unity (OAU) failed over the disputed election results that pitted him against Ratisiraka.

Ratisiraka then announced a state of emergency across the country but no action has since been taken to prevent mass demonstrations in the capital, arrest Ravalomanana or stop his continuing claims and actions for power.

Ravalomanana insisted he won outright in December's first round of presidential elections while Ratisiraka said neither got a majority. The country's High Constitutional Court ordered a runoff on March 24, which Ravalomanana has categorically rejected.

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