Nairobi — Opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana, sworn in as president in an unofficial ceremony over a week ago, appointed a rival cabinet on Friday, increasing pressure on the embattled incumbent leader of the Indian Ocean island, Didier Ratsiraka, the president still recognised by the outside world.
Ravalomanana says he does not acknowledge either the state of emergency or martial law imposed by Ratsiraka. "Martial law does not concern us, we are not worried," said Ravalomanana after announcing the formation of his government.
His 'prime minister', Jacques Sylla, named earlier this week told journalists: "For us, martial law does not exist. As far as the army is concerned, the army has declared its neutrality and we have confidence in that. We are a government which has legitimacy and the confidence of the people. We will gradually take political power."
Ravalomanana set up a parallel 17-member cabinet on Friday, that he says will run the country, despite the emergency laws in force which allow Ratsiraka to rule Madagascar by presidential decree. The military and the police were given sweeping powers, which have not, so far, been used.
Ravalomanana, who is also the mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, has accused Ratsiraka of robbing him of electoral victory in the disputed December presidential poll. Ravalomanana did not appoint a foreign or defence minister, keeping these key portfolios for himself.
Presenting his government to reporters, Ravalomanana said: "I'm happy to show you my team. These ministers represent the whole Malagasy nation."
He intends to show off his new cabinet to the people in a mass rally on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Ratsiraka's government met on Friday and says it wants to get the civil service back at work in Madagascar, after weeks of daily opposition demonstrations and a crippling strike, which have paralysed Antananarivo. Ratsiraka imposed martial law on Thursday to end the deadlock and the disruption which, he says, are draining the economy.
But with the continuing power vacuum in Madagascar, most government ministries have remained closed and doubt remains about who is really in control.
Ratsiraka - a naval officer who himself first came to power in a military takeover in 1975, before returning as an elected head of state in 1996 - decreed on Thursday that he was handing over power in Antananarivo, Ravalomanana's stronghold, to a military governor, General Leon Claude Raveloarison, effectively bypassing the mayor.
"I think that in this way, we will be able to help the mayor of Antananarivo (Ravalomanana) put the town back in order. The workers will go back to work, the students go back to school, so everyone gets on with their normal lives," said Ratsiraka, at a news conference, announcing martial law from Friday "with great sadness". "By taking this decision, reluctantly, we hope to help Mr Ravalomanana return to the negotiating table," he said.
The martial law declaration came after a day of violence, Wednesday, pitting rival pro-government and opposition supporters against each other, in running battles in Antananarivo. Up to a dozen people were reported injured. The announcement of two deaths remains unconfirmed. Rallies and demonstrations have been banned.
By Friday, the capital was bustling with activities, despite the government's security announcements. Reporters said young men played football in 13 May Square, which has been the focus of pro-Ravalomanana protests in Antananarivo, while an open-air casino did brisk trade. Shops and businesses were open as normal.
Raveloarison said he would go easy on enforcing martial law in Antananarivo, a city of four million. "My first concern is to avoid confrontation and negotiate. We must, above all, try to resolve this problem together with Marc Ravalomanana's camp in a serene way; I am appealing to the protagonists to all be wary of the danger which Antananarivo is living in. We have to look together for urgent solutions for the capital," said the new military governor, described as a moderate.
He later announced that crisis talks had begun between the rival administrations, to try to end the political impasse, which has gripped Madagascar since December. But Ravalomanana's determination to defy Ratsiraka, and his announcement of a cabinet and plans to govern, appear to have eclipsed the negotiations announced by Raveloarison.
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Soldiers have kept a low profile in the city all week, with no heavy presence in Antananarivo and few signs of extra security, despite the clashes on Wednesday. A night-time curfew was imposed on the capital after the fighting, but it appears to have been largely flouted by opposition followers who continue to erect roadblocks.
After the 'swearing in' last Friday, Ravalomanana's supporters - who consider him the rightful president - barricaded the area leading to his house, to prevent the mayor being taken away or arrested. He insists that he defeated Ratsiraka in the December presidential election, winning the first round outright, and has refused to take part in a run-off poll on 24 March, brokered by the Organisation of African Unity.
Official results put Ravalomanana well in the lead, but said he did not achieve the majority he needed to avoid a second round.
