PM arrested in Madagascar
May 27, 2002 Posted: 9:57 AM EDT (1357
GMT)
President Marc Ravalomanana's supporters raided the prime minister's residence, the only government office he had yet to capture, Monday morning and detained Tantely Andrianarivo, the former prime minister who remains loyal to Madagascar's previous president, Didier Ratsiraka.
"He is a rebel and he was arrested because he has not respected the legitimacy (of Ravalomanana's government)," said military spokesman Capt. Paul Andre.
A top Ratsiraka official negotiated on Monday afternoon for Andrianarivo's release from prison.
The island has been split between supporters of Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka loyalists since the announcement of disputed results from December 16 elections that would have forced a run-off.
After a recount by the country's highest court, Ravalomanana was sworn in as president early this month.
Even before the recount, Ravalomanana's supporters seized the capital, Antananarivo, more than two months ago. Ratsiraka, who had moved his government to the port city of Toamasina, rejected the count.
However, Andrianarivo remained in control of the prime minister's office and residence in the capital -- until Monday.
Officials on both sides of the five-month-old dispute were to have met Wednesday in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, for negotiations. However, Jose Andrinoelison, a top Ratsiraka adviser who was scheduled to attend, said that appeared unlikely in the wake of the arrest.
"As far I'm concerned, and Ratsiraka may think differently, I won't go to Dakar to negotiate unless Tantely is freed," Andrinoelison said.
The arrest came the same day as a deadline, set by extremist Ratsiraka supporters, expired for all Ravalomanana supporters and people of highland origin to leave Toamasina.
Nearly 40 people have died in political violence since the dispute on this Indian Ocean island nation began, civil rights officials say.
