Madagascar’s Rival Leaders Agree on Key Posts

Madagascar’s rival leaders have agreed on three key top positions in a new interim government, with Andry Rajoelina remaining president ahead of fresh elections in 2010.

The transitional government will have the three key posts of president, vice-president and prime minister. Rajoelina will remain president on condition that he will not be a candidate for the seat in the next presidential elections.

The three posts were missing in a prior power-sharing charter signed by Rajoelina and ousted President Marc Ravalomanana in Maputo.

The African Union’s envoy to Madagascar, Ablasse Ouedraogo, termed the yet to be formalized agreement as the beginning of the restoration of constitutional order in Madagascar.

Rajoelina toppled Ravalomanana from power through a series of military backed street protests coup last March, leading to international aid suspension and isolation of the mineral rich Indian Ocean Island. [ER].