ANTANANARIVO, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Madagascan
President Ravalomanana categorically rejected on Sunday the opposition demand
for him to resign, saying that he would win the on-going struggle against his
rival Andry Rajoelina.
"Do not be afraid, only believe, I do not
resign", Ravalomanana told a crowd of several thousand of his supporters outside
the presidential palace following an ecumenical worship Sunday morning.
Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana
says on Sunday that they would organize a referendum if necessary to
settle the political crisis in the Indian Ocean island country, March 15,
2009.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
"God is the owner of power, He is the owner of my
power and my life and the people elected me, if He (the God) does not accept me,
I would not remain in power," the besieged president said.
"I take opportunity in this worship to tell you that
we will prevail in this struggle if we will not leave God.
He informed his supporters that someone advised him
to flee abroad and gave him the opportunity but "I decided to remain with you."
Madagascar's opposition leader Andry
Rajoelina greets his supporters at the end of a religious service at
Antananarivo's city centre March 15 ,2009.(Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
He appealed to the armed forces to remain neutral and
called his supporters to respect democracy and wait for next national election
in 2012 "if somebody wants to make a coup".
"I know your concern about the soldiers who will
arrest me and follow by a coup", said Ravalomanana.
He appealed to the armed forces to return to
legality, adding that "you are wise and I think that you will return to respect
the law".
He admitted that "an independence of Madagascar is
over 50 years and democracy in this country is still soft".
The opposition led by Andry Rajoelina claimed to have
support of the armed forces in its anti-government activities.
Ravalomanana, who was first elected as president of
the island country in a national election at the end of 2001 and began his
second 5-year term at the beginning of 2007, preferred a national referendum, if
necessary, to solve the current political crisis, the worst in years in
Madagascar.
"I am ready to hold a national referendum if
necessary to resolve the current crisis," he said.
The President said that he was confident in the
legitimacy of his presidency and his popularity among the Madagascan people to
express themselves.
The gesture of the president represented a challenge
to his rival Andry Rajoelina, who has claimed to be "the spokesman of the
people" ever since the political stalemate began last December.
Almost at the same time when Ravalomanana was
speaking, Rajoelina said, also at a worship, that he would not mix religion with
politics.
Rajoelina called his supporters to come to an
anti-government gathering again on Monday, during which he would announce "big
things", but he did not elaborate.
ANTANANARIVO. March 15 (Xinhua) -- Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana said
here on Sunday that he was ready to hold a national referendum "if necessary" to
resolve the current crisis.
Speaking before a crowd of several thousand supporters
outside the presidential palace following an ecumenical worship on Sunday
morning, Ravalomanana reiterated that he would not resign. Full
story
ANTANANARIVO, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Madagascan opposition leader Andry Rajoelina failed to take over the presidency after 6:00 p.m.(1500 GMT) on Saturday as he threatened to do so earlier on the day.
Addressing a mass gathering after lunch time, Rajoelina gave a four-hour ultimatum to resign peacefully after which he would go to the presidential palace to take over the presidency. Full story
ANTANANARIVO, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The Madagascan opposition asked the High Constitutional Court (HCC) to recognize its transitional government set up early last month and to dismiss President Marc Ravalomanana, the parliament and the government.
At a press conference organized by the opposition at the office of Prime Minister Charles Rabemananjara, Monja Roindefo, the prime minister of the transitional government, urged HCC to allow the opposition leader Andry Rajoelina to assume his duty as President of the island country. Full story
ANTANANARIVO, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The Madagascan government denied that its prime minister Charles Rabemananjara had resigned following the take-over of the prime minister's palace by the opposition earlier on Saturday morning.
In an official communique issued by the local website, topmad.com, the government declared that the opposition had taken the prime minister palace but not the power of the prime minister, elected by the people. Full story
ANTANANARIVO, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Madagascan opposition leader Andry Rajoelina declared here on Saturday that he would go to the presidential palace to take over the presidential power at 6:00 p.m.. (1500 GMT).
Addressing a mass gathering around lunch time on Saturday, Rajoelina said that he would go to the presidential palace not for negotiation but to say goodbye to President Marc Ravalomanana. Full story
ANTANANARIVO, March 14, (Xinhua) -- Madagascan opposition leader Andry Rajoelina urged President Marc Ravalomanana on Saturday to leave power within four hours, agencies reported. Full story
ANTANANARIVO, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Madagascan Prime Minister Charles Rabemananjara's office was taken over by the opposition on Saturday morning. The prime minister's office was taken over by Monja Roindefo, the prime minister of the transitional government appointed by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina early last month. Full story
