Gunfire as Madagascar military meets coup plotters
Washington Post
By THOMAS PHAKANE
The Associated Press A government military officer on guard outside the air-force base near the airport in Antananarivo, Madagascar Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010. Hundreds of soldiers loyal to this Indian Ocean island's High Transitional Authority _ the internationally isolated government formed by a politician who seized power with the military's backing last year _ converge on a base near the capital's airport. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) (Themba Hadebe - AP)
Reporters had seen hundreds of soldiers loyal to this Indian Ocean island's High Transitional Authority - the internationally isolated government formed by a politician who seized power with the military's backing last year - converge on a base near the capital's airport. About 20 mutinous officers have been holed up at the base since Wednesday. Officials had said talks were planned, but shots could be heard inside the base.
Col. Julien Ravelomihary, a high-ranking member of the High Transitional Authority's military, told reporters the mutinous officers "are ready to hand themselves over, but junior officers are resisting."
The mutinous officers declared Wednesday they were taking over from Andry Rajoelina, who toppled an elected president in 2009 after months of violent protest. Western powers and Madagascar's African neighbors have accused Rajoelina of trampling on democracy, and some in the military have grown disenchanted with him in recent months.
Earlier Saturday, police had fired tear gas to break up a crowd of several hundred anti-Rajoelina demonstrators in central Antananarivo.
Saturday's protest was led by a mayors' organization that seeks a negotiated resolution to the crisis. Police say they arrested the group's leader. No injuries were reported.
The protesting mayors say they also oppose an electoral plan imposed by Rajoelina. Wednesday's coup attempt came amid a nationwide vote on Rajoelina's proposed constitution. The vote went ahead, and incomplete results put the 'yes' vote well ahead.
The proposed new charter largely resembles the existing constitution, but states that the current leader High Transitional Authority leader - Rajoelina - would remain in power until a new president is elected. There is no certainty new elections would be held. The proposed constitution also sets the minimum age to be president at 35 instead of the current 40. Rajoelina is 36.
Since Madagascar gained independence from France in 1960, soldiers have repeatedly meddled in politics.
Most Malagasy, as the nation's people are known, live in poverty, which ecotourism, vanilla production and the recent discovery of oil have done little to alleviate. Madagascar is famed for its lemurs and other unique wildlife and was the inspiration for two animated films of the same name.
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Associated Press Writer Lovasa Rabary-Rakotondravony contributed to this report
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/20/AR2010112001190.html