Madagascar's President quits

Madagascar's beleaguered President Marc Ravalomanana resigned yesterday, paving the way for opposition leader Andry Rajoelina to take power after a three-month crisis which left around 100 dead.

Hours after the army had blasted its way into his offices and let his arch rival Andry Rajoelina take control, the 59-year-old leader of the Indian Ocean island bowed to the inevitable and stepped down.

"Full powers are given to a military authority headed by eldest in the highest rank of all forces," said a statement issued by his office.

But the army and Mr Rajoelina promptly rejected the plan as an 11th-hour stratagem by the outgoing President to leave power in the hands of some of his military allies.

"We had already said we did not want this military authority, it's another ploy by Mr Ravalomanana. The people here don't want a military authority," chief of staff Colonel Andre Andriarijaona told AFP.

Mr Rajoelina was presented with the plan during a meeting attended by religious mediators, military officials and diplomats. He walked out in protest, an army official said.

The move marked a dramatic victory for Mr Rajoelina, the sacked mayor of Antananarivo who has been leading a months-long push to topple Mr Ravalomanana after seven years as President of the vast island nation. Mr Rajoelina had earlier been cheered by thousands of supporters and saluted by the army as he took over a deserted presidency in the city centre.

The embattled President received support from his African peers but remained holed up in the presidential palace on the outskirts of the capital with a handful of diehard loyalists before the resignation announcement. Mr Ravalomanana's whereabouts following his resignation were not immediately clear but speculation has abounded for days that he might flee into exile. Most of his family already left when he lost control of the army last week.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed "grave concern" as he urged all sides "to act responsibly to ensure stability and a smooth transition through democratic means".

"This peaceful path can only be the result of transitional arrangements arrived at by consensus and enjoying wide support," he added in a statement.

Mr Rajoelina, a baby-faced DJ-turned-businessman, has urged the country's security forces to arrest the outgoing president for "high treason". Accusing his rival of being a dictator starving his people, Mr Rajoelina has used his charisma and own private television station to mount a brazen challenge for the country's top office.