This was the last AP press release.
FEBRUARY 22, 20:46 ET
Madagascar Imposes State of Emergency
By JOCELYNE RANDRIANARY
Associated Press Writer
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (AP) - Madagascar's government imposed a state of
emergency Friday after the main opposition leader declared himself president
following a two-month dispute over presidential election results.
Marc Ravalomanana held a defiant swearing-in ceremony before a crowd of
100,000 supporters in a soccer stadium in the capital, Antananarivo. A
magistrate administered the oath of office as the crowd cheered.
In an address delivered on state television and radio Friday evening, Prime
Minister Tantely Andrianarivo said the government would do everything it
could to put down the illegal insurrection, and declared a three-month state
of emergency.
It will enable President Didier Ratsiraka, who is hoping to be re-elected,
to pass laws by decree, requisition the public service and assume control of
the island nation's media.
The military did not take any action Friday.
Defense Minister Marcel Ranjeva told journalists Thursday that the army was
neutral and law-abiding, and that its response to any attempt to take over
public buildings would be ``graduated and suited'' to the situation.
Ravalomanana, the mayor of Antananarivo, is extremely popular in the
capital. His support outside the city, though, is unclear.
In a speech following the ceremony, Ravalomanana promised he would take
Madagascar out of poverty and bring it into the developing world.
He said he had decided to take power because the misery in Madagascar had
become intolerable.
``I offer to quickly establish a country of truth and justice for a
dignified and honest people,'' he said. ``We must work together ... in order
to save the country from chaos.''
Ravalomanana has said he won the Dec. 16 presidential election with more
than 50 percent of the vote.
But official results gave him less than half the vote, forcing him into a
runoff with Ratsiraka, who finished second.
Ravalomanana said the count was fraudulent and has refused to participate in
the runoff, which had been scheduled for Sunday. The government announced
Wednesday that it was postponing the runoff until March 24.
Since the results were announced, Ravalomanana, 51, has brought the island
nation to a near standstill by leading massive daily protests and a general
strike aimed at forcing Ratsiraka to step down.
France, Madagascar's former colonial ruler, condemned Ravalomanana's action
and urged dialogue among the nation's political, religious and civic groups
to resolve the crisis.
U.S. officials called on Ravalomanana to reconsider his move.
Organization of African Unity Secretary-General Amara Essy, who tried to
mediate a compromise between Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka, had also warned the
opposition leader against declaring himself president.
Essy said the move could lead to the nation's banishment from the
organization.
Madagascar lies about 250 miles off the coast of Mozambique in the Indian
Ocean. One of the world's poorest nations, it won independence in 1960.
Ratsiraka, 67, was Madagascar's military ruler for 17 years before coming to
power in elections in 1996.
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