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afrol News, 22 February - Tiako i Madagasikara, party of Marc Ravalomanana, hails the Malagasy President: "Vive le Président, Marc Ravalomanana!" Ravalomanana "seized power" in Madagascar today. According to the national government and to the international community, however, the Malagasy President remains Didier Ratsiraka. The opposition leader today proclaimed himself president before a crow of tens of thousands at a ceremony in the national stadium Mahamasina in the capital Antananarivo. Ravalomanana on Wednesday found the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) mediated negotiations with President Ratsiraka a "complete fiasco" and "bowed to the pressure from religious leaders" he should seize power. Presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana claims he won the first round of last December's presidential elections outright and is backed in his view by independent election observers and hundreds of thousands of Antananarivo dwellers, which have been protesting daily for almost two months. Ratsiraka and the Malagasy High Constitutional Court demand there should be held a second poll round to decide who is President. - Facing God and facing the people, I accept the charge of the President of the Republic, Ravalomanana told the cheering crowd, "and I will dedicate myself with all my force and my wisdom to the national unity and to human rights." The crowd, which according to observers, "appeared to be in carnival mood," celebrated its "new President", who was waving a bible. In a press release issued by Ravalomanana after the ceremony, the "President of the Republic" (according to the signature) said he had "seized the power only to return it to my people." Ravalomanana said President Ratsiraka had created an uncertainty by his "refusal to recognize his defeat at the time of the poll of 16 December," and that "the economic development and the foundation of democracy of Madagascar" had made it necessary to seize power. - To seize the power under these conditions is a difficult act but it appeared necessary to me, Ravalomanana stated. He further reassured the international community of "the continuity of the State." The Malagasy government so far has not reacted to Ravalomanana's seizure of power. Ratsiraka earlier this week warned that his opponent's plan to seize power would be illegal and un-constitutional. The military have so far said they are neutral, but at the same time have warned that they would protect the institutions of the country. The international reaction so far has been sceptical towards Ravalomanana, recognising Ratsiraka is still the Malagasy President. The UN and OAU have pressured both parties to go back to the negotiating table to resolve the dispute. A second poll round is preferred by the organisations.
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