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Madagascar president 'to resign'

by Amitjha | March 17, 2009 at 04:32 am

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Latest news from Madagascar says that president is about to hand over power to the military, The whole episode of ups and down will col down for time being.How the situation will normalize and how the new government will form it is very tough to predict at this stage.

Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana is to stand down and hand power to the military, sources in the president's office have told the BBC.

It comes hours after opposition leader Andry Rajoelina installed himself in the president's offices, seized on Monday by pro-opposition troops.

Earlier, a number of government ministers quit, as power ebbed away from the president.

The crisis on the Indian Ocean island has left 100 people dead since January.

"Apparently the president is handing over to the military and is going to make a declaration," an aide said in a text to the BBC.

"The order signed by Ravalomanana transfers the powers of the president and the prime minister to a military board," an unnamed diplomat told AFP news agency.

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sara star

at 06:47 on March 17th, 2009

Reported by Rachel yesterday.

Rachel Nixon

at 07:54 on March 17th, 2009

I think this is an update to yesterday's news. I'm also seeing reports that the head of the opposition paraded through the streets of Antananarivo before entering the presidential palace. It wasn't clear how much army support had gone over to the opposition leader.

In addition:

An aide announced after President Marc Ravalomanana's radio address to the nation that a council of high-ranking, veteran military officers would hold elections within two years. Ravalomanana's term would have ended in 2011. The aide was not identified.