You ask me the AU is the most ill-conceived good idea that ever came
out of Africa. A bunch unconstitutional governments trying to legislate
constitutional rule. I am sure Ambassador Bruno has decided not to
remember how his own government came to power.

Bytheway, it is said that disc-jockeying is fast becoming the second
most sort-after job on the continent, only after  Army NCO:).  Haruna,
are you sure you are in the right job?


Malanding


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7954356.stm


  Africa rejects Madagascar 'coup'

*The African Union has suspended Madagascar after the army forced out
the president and installed the opposition leader in his place.*

Although the handover in Madagascar was not a straightforward military
seizure of power, an AU official said it had not been constitutional.

Andry Rajoelina on Thursday suspended parliament and held his first
cabinet meeting since taking power.

He is due to be inaugurated at a ceremony in the capital on Saturday.

President Marc Ravalomanana resigned under pressure from a section of
the army, which insisted that Mr Rajoelina should take over.

"The council is of the opinion that what occurred in Madagascar enters
the definition of unconstitutional change of government," said Burkina
Faso's Ambassador Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba, Chairman of the AU's Peace
and Security Council.

"The council then decided to suspend the participation of Madagascar to
the bodies and organs of the AU."

*Sanctions*

Madagascar's Constitutional Court has approved the handover of power.

But for the AU, the crucial question was whether Madagascar followed
constitutional procedures when a president resigns - these call for the
head of parliament's upper house to take over, and for elections within
two months.

As this did not happen, they decided it could be considered a coup.

The AU has suspended both Mauritania and Guinea after military takeovers
in recent months.

The BBC's Elizabeth Blunt at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa says
Madagascar now has six months to restore constitutional order, or the AU
can impose sanctions.

She says these would normally target members of the government.

Mr Rajoelina says he wants to change the constitution, which at present
bars the 34-year-old from contesting presidential elections, as he is
six years too young.

On Thursday, the Southern African Development Community, to which
Madagascar belongs, said constitutional rule should be restored as soon
as possible and refused to recognise Mr Rajoelina.

The statement said the 15-member group "condemns in the strongest terms
the circumstances that led to the ousting of a democratically-elected
president of Madagascar".

America added its voice to the chorus of condemnation on Thursday.

A US state department spokesman said of Madagascar: "We view this as an
undemocratic transfer of power."

Mr Rajoelina, a former disc-jockey, has set up two transitional bodies
to run the country.

The BBC's Christina Corbett in the capital Antananarivo says he is
trying to legitimise himself ahead of his inauguration as transitional
leader on Saturday.

There is still no word on the whereabouts of Mr Ravalomanana, whose
re-election to a second term in 2006 could not save him from being ousted.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html

To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤