Madagascar talks focus on transition pact

Madagascar's marathon crisis talks pivoted yesterday around details of a transition pact to pave the way for new polls nearly five months after the fall of president Marc Ravalomanana.

Interim leader Andry Rajoelina and Ravalomanana are holding direct talks, alongside former Madagascan presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy, for the first time since the army handed Rajoelina power in March.

The fourth day of dialogue was pressing on behind closed doors with all four leaders and the internationally backed mediation team in the Mozambican capital, a source close to the mediation told AFP.

"We are still discussing Ravalomanana and the distribution of posts," the source said.

All previous attempts to agree on a transition charter have floundered, with talks led by the African Union and UN suspended in June.

This was after the leaders' groups agreed in May to "principles" for a transition and new elections.

Earlier, as talks dragged on overnight into early yesterday, a source close to the mediation said the leaders had agreed to a transition period that would lead to new elections.

"The framework of the transition has... been confirmed by the leaders but some sensitive issues remain. Who is going to lead the transition? What about the return of Ravalomanana?

"We have moved forward but some problems remain," the source said.

Talks last Friday failed to reach agreement on an amnesty for Ravalomanana, who fled Madagascar after handing power to an army, which then put Rajoelina in power after waves of protests that killed some 100 people.

The fallen leader, living in exile in South Africa, was convicted in his absence of a "conflict of interest" in the purchase of a presidential airplane and sentenced to four years in prison in June.

He requires an immunity deal to be able to return and contest the polls.