ANTANANARIVO, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The United States would resume its development operations in Madagascar, the U.S. Ambassador to the Indian Ocean island state announced on Friday.

    "Series of programs funded by the United States in Madagascar for years will be resumed, thanks to the positive political developments in the country," Niels Marquardt said at the launching ceremony of a health project, Santenet-II, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

    However, the US Ambassador said that activities would be resumed after the completion of agreements signed by the Madagascan stakeholders, including the transitional president Andry Rajoelina and former presidents Marc Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy, on August 9 in Maputo, Mozambique.

    "Rapid implementation of these agreements will lead the U. S. government to finance the future presidential election" set for October 2010 in Madagascar, Marquardt said.

    "Once the inclusive and consensual transitional government will be set up, the U. S. government is ready to support the holding of free, fair and transparent election to restore democracy in Madagascar," he added.

    He urged Madagascan politicians to apply as soon as possible the agreements reached in Maputo, Mozambique.

    The project Santenet-II, a five-year project worth 1.5 million U. S. dollars, was implemented by eight organizations working in 239 municipalities in the country.

    "The project was aimed at improving health in municipalities and strengthening their management skills so they can be eligible in other funds offered by other donors," said Dr. Volkan Cakir, USAID manager project to Madagascar.

    The grants were aimed at improving the health of people living more than an hour of walk or more than five km from any health facility, Cakir said.