Civil war looms in Madagascar, according to this report:
ANTANANARIVO -- A rebel soldier named himself head of Madagascar's army on Wednesday, ousting the general who had given the island's feuding leaders a three-day ultimatum to resolve the political crisis.
General Edmond Rasolomahandry had on Tuesday asked President Marc Ravalomanana and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina to unite within 72 hours to end weeks of troubles that have killed about 135 people and devastated the economy.
"Discussions proceeded without problems between brothers. From now on, the army is behind me," Colonel Noel Ndriarijoana, leading mutinous troops, told reporters.
The troops mutinied in anger at a crackdown by the government on demonstrations against Mr. Ravalomanana, but opposition leader Mr. Rajoelina has distanced himself from them.
Local media reported on Tuesday that U.S. Ambassador Niels Marquardt had warned the Indian Ocean island nation was on "the verge of civil war."
General Edmond Rasolomahandry....President Marc Ravalomanana....opposition leader Andry Rajoelina....Colonel Noel Ndriarijoana: newsreaders everywhere are praying for a swift resolution to the crisis.
Previously, and here, on President Ravalomanana's extraordinary deal with Korean industrial giant Daewoo, which may have been the last straw for many Malagasians.
Update: it's getting worse - spokesman for the mutinous soldiers is Colonel Noel Rakotonandrasa.
Andy Razaf, who wrote lots of lyrics for Fats Waller tunes, had the full name Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo: his family came from Madagascar.
Posted by: dearieme | March 13, 2009 at 11:59 PM