Madagascar rivals to meet in hope of ending island nation’s political crisis

October 7th, 2009 Mediators: Madagascar leader can't run in electionANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar's opposing political factions have agreed to retain the coup leader as head of the transitional government starting Wednesday but will not allow him to run in presidential elections, mediators said. African Union envoy Ablasse Ouedraogo said late Tuesday that coup leader Andry Rajoelina will lead the transitional government until an election is held.

October 6th, 2009 Madagascar police use tear gas on protestersANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Police have dispersed protesters with tear gas outside a meeting of mediators who hope to smooth over Madagascar's post-coup political turmoil. African Union commissioner Jean Ping says the third meeting of African Union and southern African mediators on Tuesday hopes to reach a peaceful political solution after a coup in March.

September 9th, 2009 Toppled Madagascar leader rejects new governmentANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar's ousted president and another former head of the Indian Ocean island have rejected the formation of a new government. Andry Rajoelina, the military-backed politician who seized control of the country in March, unilaterally named a new Cabinet Tuesday.

August 28th, 2009 Madagascar talks fail to decide on interim leadersMAPUTO, Mozambique — Talks aimed at determining who should lead Madagascar in a new interim government ended Friday with the ousted president and the man who replaced him in a military coup failing to agree on who should take the top posts. Parties set a deadline of Sept.

August 21st, 2009 UNICEF raises concerns about southern MadagascarJOHANNESBURG — The U.N. children's agency fears Madagascar's political crisis and a freeze on development aid is hurting the most vulnerable.

August 9th, 2009 Madagascar rivals agree on transition dealMAPUTO, Mozambique —Madagascar's bitter political rivals signed a power-sharing deal Sunday, agreeing to create an interim government to end months of violence. The Indian Ocean island has become increasingly isolated since Andry Rajoelina claimed the presidency last March in a widely denounced coup that sent Marc Ravalomanana into exile.

June 30th, 2009 A closer look at island nation of ComorosA passenger jet carrying 153 people en route to the island nation of Comoros crashed early Tuesday. Here is a closer look at the country: GEOGRAPHY: The Comoros archipelago lies in the Indian Ocean between the southeast African coast and the island of Madagascar.

June 16th, 2009 International mediators suspend Madagascar talksANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — International mediators say they are indefinitely suspending negotiations in Madagascar because the Indian Ocean island's politicians are blocking progress. The talks are aimed at restoring constitutional order and involve representatives of military-backed leader Andry Rajoelina as well as the president he ousted in March.

April 30th, 2009 Madagascar aide to ousted president taken awayANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — A top aide to Madagascar's ousted president has been taken away by soldiers, according to images aired by a private television station of the latest move against those who oppose the troubled nation's new, military-backed leader. Attempts to determine Manandafy Rakotonirina's whereabouts were not immediately successful Thursday.

April 24th, 2009 2 killed, 6 injured in Madagascar unrestANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar police and supporters of the African country's ousted president clashed in running street battles Friday, leaving two people dead and six injured, officials said. One of the dead — a woman — was hit by a stray bullet fired as police tried to break up a demonstration by supporters of Marc Ravalomanana, hospital officials said.

April 23rd, 2009 Rioting as Madagascar armed forces dispel protestsANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Armed forces in Madagascar fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators loyal to the island nation's ousted president on Thursday, as looters rampaged through the streets of the capital. Radio Madagascar said numerous casualties were being taken to the Antananarivo's main hospital.

March 22nd, 2009 ANTANANARIVO - Andry Rajoelina was formally inaugurated as president of Madagascar in an official ceremony held here Saturday. The ceremony was attended by tens of thousands of his supporters.

March 21st, 2009 ADDIS ABABA/ANTANANARIVO - Madagascar's new leader was in a corner Friday after the African Union (AU) suspended the country over his 'coup' and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said it was planning sanctions. The chairman of the AU Peace and Security Council, Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba, said Rajoelina's army-backed arrival to power through the streets constituted a 'civilian and military coup'.

February 6th, 2009 ANTANANARIVO - Troops in Madagascar opened fire on an anti-government demonstration in the capital killing 40 protestors and injuring 300, according to media reports Saturday. Among the dead are thought to be two TV journalists, including a foreign correspondent.

January 20th, 2009 HAVANA - Cuba's parliament speaker has praised Barack Obama's inaugural address as US president while stressing that it remains to be seen whether the new occupant of the White House would change Washington's policy towards the communist-ruled island, EFE reported Wednesday. 'I think it's very interesting.