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| Vote offer rejected in Madagascar | Vote offer rejected in Madagascar |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Madagascar opposition leader Andry Rajoelina has rejected President Marc Ravalomanana's offer of a referendum to solve the six-week political crisis. | Madagascar opposition leader Andry Rajoelina has rejected President Marc Ravalomanana's offer of a referendum to solve the six-week political crisis. |
| Mr Rajoelina, a 34-year-old former disc jockey, said he and his supporters would take the presidential palace in the capital Antananarivo on Monday. | Mr Rajoelina, a 34-year-old former disc jockey, said he and his supporters would take the presidential palace in the capital Antananarivo on Monday. |
| Earlier two blasts, suspected to have been mortars, struck about 2km (1.2 miles) from the presidential palace. | Earlier two blasts, suspected to have been mortars, struck about 2km (1.2 miles) from the presidential palace. |
| A presidential spokesman said they were designed to intimidate his supporters. | A presidential spokesman said they were designed to intimidate his supporters. |
| The power struggle between the president and opposition leader has triggered a military mutiny, deadly protests and looting which have left at least 100 people dead in the Indian Ocean island since January. | The power struggle between the president and opposition leader has triggered a military mutiny, deadly protests and looting which have left at least 100 people dead in the Indian Ocean island since January. |
| The army, parts of which have stopped taking orders from Mr Ravalomanana's government but have not explicitly allied with Mr Rajoelina, told Reuters news agency the pre-dawn blasts had nothing to do with them. | The army, parts of which have stopped taking orders from Mr Ravalomanana's government but have not explicitly allied with Mr Rajoelina, told Reuters news agency the pre-dawn blasts had nothing to do with them. |
| The African Union is due to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss what it calls the "worsening situation" in Madagascar. | The African Union is due to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss what it calls the "worsening situation" in Madagascar. |
| 'Not interested' | 'Not interested' |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in the capital Antananarivo says the president's referendum offer is being seen by the opposition as a desperate last roll of the dice and has spurred them on to intensify their demands that he step down. | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in the capital Antananarivo says the president's referendum offer is being seen by the opposition as a desperate last roll of the dice and has spurred them on to intensify their demands that he step down. |
| "We are not interested in this referendum," Mr Rajoelina told reporters on Monday. CRISIS TIMELINE December 2006: Marc Ravalomanana returned as president for second term31 January 2009: Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina says he is in charge of the country after weeks of bloody protests3 February: Mr Rajoelina is sacked as mayor of Antananarivo14 March: President Ravolamanana offers to hold referendum15 March: Mr Rajoelina rejects offer class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7944606.stm">Crisis isolates president class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7935682.stm">Q&A: Madagascar in crisis | |
| Mr Rajoelina says the president is a tyrant who misspends public money, while Mr Ravolamanana's supporters call his young rival a troublemaker. | Mr Rajoelina says the president is a tyrant who misspends public money, while Mr Ravolamanana's supporters call his young rival a troublemaker. |
| On Saturday, Mr Rajoelina again told his rival to step down and declared himself president, appointing a "prime minister" and "transition government". | On Saturday, Mr Rajoelina again told his rival to step down and declared himself president, appointing a "prime minister" and "transition government". |
| Appearing at an open-air Sunday service attended by 5,000 supporters outside the presidential palace, a defiant Mr Ravalomanana said: "I will never resign." | Appearing at an open-air Sunday service attended by 5,000 supporters outside the presidential palace, a defiant Mr Ravalomanana said: "I will never resign." |
| "Power belongs to the people and it's only fair to organise a referendum," the president said, promising a "free and transparent" vote. | "Power belongs to the people and it's only fair to organise a referendum," the president said, promising a "free and transparent" vote. |
| Colonel Andre Ndriarijaona - who last week led a mutiny that ousted the army chief - reportedly said a plebiscite would take too long. | Colonel Andre Ndriarijaona - who last week led a mutiny that ousted the army chief - reportedly said a plebiscite would take too long. |
| "A referendum needs time to be organised and the country cannot afford to wait under such difficult circumstances," he told Reuters. | "A referendum needs time to be organised and the country cannot afford to wait under such difficult circumstances," he told Reuters. |
| Several thousand opposition supporters attended another church service on Sunday in the central Antananarivo square that has become the focal point of anti-government demonstrations. | Several thousand opposition supporters attended another church service on Sunday in the central Antananarivo square that has become the focal point of anti-government demonstrations. |
| Democratically elected to a second term in office in 2006, Mr Ravalomanana has previously said he wants to remain in office until his mandate expires in 2011. | Democratically elected to a second term in office in 2006, Mr Ravalomanana has previously said he wants to remain in office until his mandate expires in 2011. |