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| Military backs Madagascar rival | Military backs Madagascar rival |
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| Military leaders in Madagascar have conferred full powers on 34-year-old opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, hours after the president resigned. | Military leaders in Madagascar have conferred full powers on 34-year-old opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, hours after the president resigned. |
| The officials said they had rejected an invitation from President Marc Ravalomanana to take up power as a military directorate. | The officials said they had rejected an invitation from President Marc Ravalomanana to take up power as a military directorate. |
| Mr Rajoelina earlier installed himself in the president's offices, seized on Monday by pro-opposition troops. | Mr Rajoelina earlier installed himself in the president's offices, seized on Monday by pro-opposition troops. |
| He announced a new constitution and elections within two years. | He announced a new constitution and elections within two years. |
| The BBC's Jonah Fisher in the capital, Antananarivo, says that after a day of confusion the military seems to have given clear backing to Mr Rajoelina, apparently resolving a long power struggle on the Indian Ocean island. I assume as a duty all responsibility, management and leadership of our beloved country Andry Rajoelina | The BBC's Jonah Fisher in the capital, Antananarivo, says that after a day of confusion the military seems to have given clear backing to Mr Rajoelina, apparently resolving a long power struggle on the Indian Ocean island. I assume as a duty all responsibility, management and leadership of our beloved country Andry Rajoelina |
| The African Union had urged the army not to hand power to Mr Rajoelina, saying this would amount to a coup. | The African Union had urged the army not to hand power to Mr Rajoelina, saying this would amount to a coup. |
| Mr Rajoelina has led protests against Mr Ravalomanana that began in January. The crisis has left more than 100 people dead. | Mr Rajoelina has led protests against Mr Ravalomanana that began in January. The crisis has left more than 100 people dead. |
| 'Deep reflection' | 'Deep reflection' |
| Speaking at a military camp in the capital late on Tuesday, Vice Adm Hyppolite Ramaroson said the military was giving full powers to Mr Rajoelina "to become president of the high transitional authority". | Speaking at a military camp in the capital late on Tuesday, Vice Adm Hyppolite Ramaroson said the military was giving full powers to Mr Rajoelina "to become president of the high transitional authority". |
| "We have categorically rejected the [military] authority that [Mr] Ravalomanana asked us to set up after his resignation," he said. | "We have categorically rejected the [military] authority that [Mr] Ravalomanana asked us to set up after his resignation," he said. |
| Mr Ravalomanana had said he was handing over to the military during a radio address in which he announced his resignation. MADAGASCAR KEY FACTS World's fourth largest islandBiodiversity hotspotExposed to tropical cyclonesPopulation 20 million70% live on less than $1 a dayFrench colony until 1960World's No 1 vanilla producer Country profileIn pictures: Opposition seizes power'I fear a civil war'President bows to inevitableMadagascar's young pretender | Mr Ravalomanana had said he was handing over to the military during a radio address in which he announced his resignation. MADAGASCAR KEY FACTS World's fourth largest islandBiodiversity hotspotExposed to tropical cyclonesPopulation 20 million70% live on less than $1 a dayFrench colony until 1960World's No 1 vanilla producer Country profileIn pictures: Opposition seizes power'I fear a civil war'President bows to inevitableMadagascar's young pretender |
| He said he had decided to give up power after "deep reflection". | He said he had decided to give up power after "deep reflection". |
| "This decision was very difficult and very hard, but it had to be made," he said. "We need calm and peace to develop our country." | "This decision was very difficult and very hard, but it had to be made," he said. "We need calm and peace to develop our country." |
| His decision to cede power marks a dramatic victory for Mr Rajoelina, who was sacked as mayor of the capital in February. | His decision to cede power marks a dramatic victory for Mr Rajoelina, who was sacked as mayor of the capital in February. |
| The former disc jockey took up office at the presidential residence in central Antananarivo on Tuesday before emerging triumphantly to parade among thousands of supporters. | The former disc jockey took up office at the presidential residence in central Antananarivo on Tuesday before emerging triumphantly to parade among thousands of supporters. |
| "I accept humbly and with love - I assume as a duty - all responsibility, management and leadership of our beloved country, Madagascar," he said. | "I accept humbly and with love - I assume as a duty - all responsibility, management and leadership of our beloved country, Madagascar," he said. |
| He also announced that the constitution would be changed - the current constitution sets a minimum age of 40 for presidential candidates, while Mr Rajoelina is 34. | He also announced that the constitution would be changed - the current constitution sets a minimum age of 40 for presidential candidates, while Mr Rajoelina is 34. |
| Earlier, a number of government ministers quit, as power ebbed away from the president. | Earlier, a number of government ministers quit, as power ebbed away from the president. |
| Our correspondent says the mood on the streets was one of relief following fears of a bloody last stand if Mr Ravalomanana had continued to cling to power. | Our correspondent says the mood on the streets was one of relief following fears of a bloody last stand if Mr Ravalomanana had continued to cling to power. |
| Mr Ravalomanana had said he was ready to fight to the death at the Iavoloha palace, about 15km (nine miles) from the city centre. | Mr Ravalomanana had said he was ready to fight to the death at the Iavoloha palace, about 15km (nine miles) from the city centre. |
| It was not clear whether Mr Ravalomanana was still in the palace late on Tuesday. | It was not clear whether Mr Ravalomanana was still in the palace late on Tuesday. |
| Popular frustration | Popular frustration |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed grave concern at the unrest in Madagascar, appealing to all parties to ensure a "smooth transition". | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed grave concern at the unrest in Madagascar, appealing to all parties to ensure a "smooth transition". |
| The African Union and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) had condemned in advance any direct seizure of power by Mr Rajoelina. | The African Union and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) had condemned in advance any direct seizure of power by Mr Rajoelina. |
| "We don't think anybody has the right to unseat an elected government by force," Botswanan Foreign Minister Phando Skelemani told the BBC, speaking on behalf of SADC. | "We don't think anybody has the right to unseat an elected government by force," Botswanan Foreign Minister Phando Skelemani told the BBC, speaking on behalf of SADC. |
| On Monday, Mr Rajoelina, who has declared himself president, rejected Mr Ravalomanana's offer of a referendum to solve the crisis and called for his arrest. | On Monday, Mr Rajoelina, who has declared himself president, rejected Mr Ravalomanana's offer of a referendum to solve the crisis and called for his arrest. |
| Later that day, troops stormed the presidential residence in the centre of the capital and seized the central bank. | Later that day, troops stormed the presidential residence in the centre of the capital and seized the central bank. |
| Mr Ravalomanana was re-elected for a second term in office in 2006 and under him, Madagascar's economy has opened up to foreign investment, particularly in mining. | Mr Ravalomanana was re-elected for a second term in office in 2006 and under him, Madagascar's economy has opened up to foreign investment, particularly in mining. |
| But 70% of the 20 million population still lives on less than $1 (£0.7) a day and correspondents say the opposition has tapped into popular frustration at the failure of this new wealth to trickle down. | But 70% of the 20 million population still lives on less than $1 (£0.7) a day and correspondents say the opposition has tapped into popular frustration at the failure of this new wealth to trickle down. |
| Mr Rajoelina had said the president has been a tyrant who misspent public money but Mr Ravalomanana's supporters said his rival is a young troublemaker who has not offered any policy alternatives. | Mr Rajoelina had said the president has been a tyrant who misspent public money but Mr Ravalomanana's supporters said his rival is a young troublemaker who has not offered any policy alternatives. |
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