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President Marc Ravalomanana had the same morning given absolute power, for the organization of a national conference. Marc Ravalomanana thereafter left his palace at the border of the capital for an unknown destination. More with Ghislaine Dupont.
[Dupont] The military chiefs appointed by presidential decree will only be on paper. The three generals who, in the morning, had inherited full powers from President Ravalomanana transferred them to his adversary Andry Rajoelina.
[Bruno Minas, RFI journalist] Yes in 2002 Marc Ravalomanana businessman and mayor of Antananarivo grabbed power through street protest. Protests, thereafter, relayed by political class and army. What has just happened is more or less similar to what just occurred in favour of Andry Rajoelina, businessman and mayor of Antananarivo.
Text of report by French state-funded public broadcaster Radio France Internationale on 18 March; subheading inserted editorially
[Presenter] In Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina was last night appointed as president of High Authority of Transition by the established military chiefs.
President Marc Ravalomanana had the same morning given absolute power, for the organization of a national conference. Marc Ravalomanana thereafter left his palace at the border of the capital for an unknown destination. More with Ghislaine Dupont.
Challenges ahead
[Dupont] The military chiefs appointed by presidential decree will only be on paper. The three generals who, in the morning, had inherited full powers from President Ravalomanana transferred them to his adversary Andry Rajoelina.
The former mayor of Antananarivo was appointed president of High Authority of Transition and has the mission to organize elections in 24 months.
After weeks of clashes, Andry TGV [Rajoelina's nickname in reference to the French high-speed train service] obtains power snatched by force with the support of a part of the people in Antananarivo and especially CAPSAT [Army Personnel and Services Administration Corps] military camp where a revolt started, less than two weeks ago.
The opposition and army, who demanded the departure of head of state, have not obtained his resignation by the book, meaning through the constitution. However, yesterday Marc Ravalomanana gave up arms by leaving his Iavoloha [Presidential] Palace for an unknown destination.
If the arrival of his young 35 year-old opponent, who entered in politics less than two years ago, will logically put an end to the crisis. After the euphoria, the new president, whose political foundation is minimal, will have to reassure all Malagasy people. If this fails, all political and regional rivalries as well as dangers of splits within the army threaten to once again plunge Madagascar in a spiral of violence.
Legal framework needed
[Presenter] Andry Rajoelina does not want the term coup d'etat to be used. However, he now needs a legal framework to the regime change as this was the case with Marc Ravalomanana in 2002.
[Bruno Minas, RFI journalist] Yes in 2002 Marc Ravalomanana businessman and mayor of Antananarivo grabbed power through street protest. Protests, thereafter, relayed by political class and army. What has just happened is more or less similar to what just occurred in favour of Andry Rajoelina, businessman and mayor of Antananarivo.
In a quick recap, it took six months for Marc Ravalomanana to knock over Didier Ratsiraka. It took over two months for Andry Rajoelina to do the same. What remains, is to give some legality or legal appearance to the process.
For Ravalomanana, this was relatively easy because he had exhausted the first round of elections in December 2001. He was declared a winner by the constitutional court though each camp was not sure of the result.
In the current case, legal format is more difficult since no elections results refer to. No formal resignation and even if it had have taken place, it is nonetheless written that the senate Speaker insures the interim.
Andry Rajoelina himself announced his wish to form a fourth republic, meaning a constitutional revision. The current constitution does not even give him the right to compete in presidential elections, as one has to be at least 40 years and he is only 34 years old.
[Presenter] Last night, in Antananarivo, Norbert Ratsirahonana, magistrate and former president of high constitutional court emphasized that since the transfer of power to the army was done through by presidential decree, the military chiefs will write a decree to re-transfer it to Andry Rajoelina, thus rendering according to him, the constitutional process.
On his part, the former mayor of Antananarivo maintains that he plans to foremost make sure that life returns to normal by having a functioning bureaucratic machine. Thereafter, put in place transitional government which will prepare an election in the upcoming two years.
Internation community reactions
The AU Peace And Security council met yesterday and pointed out that they took note of the resignation by decree of President Marc Ravalomanana, under the pressure of the civil opposition and army.
UN secretary-general expressed much concern by the ongoing turmoil in Madagascar and took note of the resignation of Marc Ravalomanana. Ban Ki-moon urges all concerned parties, in particular police and army to provide security for the population and work towards a resolution smoothly.
France on its part, reckons that it up to the Malagasy people to find a way to end the crisis in a peaceful and lasting way, in a spirit of dialogue and reconciliation, says Paris.
Credit: Radio France Internationale, Paris, in French 0430 18 Mar 09
Radio France Internationale, Paris, in French 0430 18 Mar 09/BBC Monitoring/(c) BBC