A supporter of Madagascar's ousted president Marc Ravalomanana holds the Madagascan flag as he confronts …
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Southern African leaders will meet in Johannesburg this weekend to discuss the crisis in Madagascar, after international mediation efforts were suspended, South Africa said Thursday.
"An extraordinary summit is forecast on the way things are going in Madagascar," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Nomfanelo Kota.
Heads of state from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet Saturday, with a preliminary meeting on Friday in Johannesburg she said.
The crisis on the vast Indian Ocean island erupted three months ago when President Marc Ravalomanana was ousted by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina in an army-backed takeover that followed weeks of street protests.
SADC has already suspended Madagascar over the takeover, and Ravalomanana -- now living in exile in South Africa -- has been lobbying regional leaders to press for his return.
Earlier this month he said military intervention should be considered to secure a return to law and order.
The summit was announced two days after talks sponsored by the African Union and the United Nations were suspended, with no date set for a resumption.
"We have decided to observe a break in order to ponder our strategy and give the Madagascan players the time needed to make concessions," the African Union's Burkinabe envoy Ablasse Ouedraogo told reporters on Tuesday.
"We were quite close to a breakthrough but we are now facing stumbling blocks caused by stiffening positions and preconditions," he said.
Talks were launched on April 8 between Rajoelina's transitional authority and supporters of Ravalomanana, who is still recognised by the international community as the island's lawful leader.
The consultations are aimed at striking an agreement on the modalities of the transition and eventually a return to constitutional order.
The 35-year-old Rajoelina seized power with the army's blessing and support on March 17. He promised elections for 2010 but is constitutionally five years too young to run for president.
"An extraordinary summit is forecast on the way things are going in Madagascar," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Nomfanelo Kota.
Heads of state from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet Saturday, with a preliminary meeting on Friday in Johannesburg she said.
The crisis on the vast Indian Ocean island erupted three months ago when President Marc Ravalomanana was ousted by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina in an army-backed takeover that followed weeks of street protests.
SADC has already suspended Madagascar over the takeover, and Ravalomanana -- now living in exile in South Africa -- has been lobbying regional leaders to press for his return.
Earlier this month he said military intervention should be considered to secure a return to law and order.
The summit was announced two days after talks sponsored by the African Union and the United Nations were suspended, with no date set for a resumption.
"We have decided to observe a break in order to ponder our strategy and give the Madagascan players the time needed to make concessions," the African Union's Burkinabe envoy Ablasse Ouedraogo told reporters on Tuesday.
"We were quite close to a breakthrough but we are now facing stumbling blocks caused by stiffening positions and preconditions," he said.
Talks were launched on April 8 between Rajoelina's transitional authority and supporters of Ravalomanana, who is still recognised by the international community as the island's lawful leader.
The consultations are aimed at striking an agreement on the modalities of the transition and eventually a return to constitutional order.
The 35-year-old Rajoelina seized power with the army's blessing and support on March 17. He promised elections for 2010 but is constitutionally five years too young to run for president.
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