From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Mon May 11 2009 - 11:48:09 EDT
Madagascar tells US envoy to leave
Mon, 11 May 2009 14:42:30 GMT
¨The Madagascan premier accuses the US envoy of meddling, saying "it
would be better for him to leave the island if he carries on with this
conduct".
Monja Roindefa on Monday expressed outrage over what he termed as
interference by ambassador Niels Marquadt in the country's internal
affairs.
"It surprises me that before the crisis he (Marquardt) said Americans
were going to quit Madagascar. Three months later he is still there.
Nobody is forcing him to stay," Reuters quoted Monja as saying.
He was referring to months of unrest on the Island which ended in
president Marc Ravalomanana stepping down from power in March and
handing the reins of the country to opposition leader Andry Rajoelina.
Marquardt had described the change in Madagascan leadership as a
'military coup' which had left Madagascar "on the verge of civil war"
and called for fresh elections.
"Those who are not happy can leave. The Malagasy people are sovereign,"
Monja said.
The Madagascan premier also targeted the international community's
non-recognition of the incumbent interim government.
"You are our technical and financial partners but before saying there
had been a coup, before taking decisions, you should have listened to
our version of events," he said on Sunday.
Nearly 200 Madagascans have been killed in clashes between pro- and
anti-government supporters on the island where seven percent of the
population live on less than USD 1 a day.
Despite the humanitarian crisis in Madagascar, the United States, Norway
and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have withheld financial
assistance from Antananarivo.
<http://www.state.gov/cms_images/Amb_Marquardt_2002.jpg>
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=94361
<http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=94361§ionid=351020506>
§ionid=351020506
