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Five of Madagascar's six provincial governors united behind President Didier Ratsiraka on Tuesday to set up a rival capital to Antananarivo, now in opposition control.

The governors decided to name the designated eastern port of Toamasina their capital in the wake of Monday's installation of an alternate cabinet appointed by self-declared president Marc Ravalomanana.

The latest political move by Ratsiraka is seen as 'strategic positioning' ahead of a visit from the Organisation of African Unity(OAU) on Wednesday. The OAU is sending a "contact group" to Madagascar to try to resolve the deepening political crisis.

"The political viability of two capitals operating on the island is impractical. By consolidating support in the provinces, Ratsiraka is now in a stronger position to negotiate with Ravalomanana. Ratsiraka is basically saying that Antanananrivo is not the entire island and that he still has effective control of the provinces," political science researcher Sanusha Naidu at the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria told IRIN.

Ravalomanana has also said that he is now prepared to talk to Ratsiraka, something he had previously refused to do.

In a move to further isolate Antananarivo, Ratsiraka's supporters have set up barricades around the Toamasina and Majungato ports, cutting off the capital's fuel supplies. Already residents of the capital are feeling the fuel shortages, according to reports.

"Most people have parked their cars and are using public transport to get around," an Antananarivo resident told IRIN.

Meanwhile Ravalomanana says civil servants are ready to go back to work under his new administration. "If civil servants do indeed return to work, it will be yet another blow to Ratsiraka and further proof that he is struggling to hold onto effective power," Naidu added. Ratsiraka’s ministries have been closed since civil servants went on strike, almost a month ago, in sympathy with mass opposition rallies and demonstrations, protesting against what Ravalomanana said was a stolen election by his rival in December last year.

Ratsiraka, one of Africa's longest-serving rulers, originally comes from Toamasina province. The embattled president has been in power for more than 20 years. He was named president in 1975 shortly after the introduction of a socialist constitution which limited political activity. Under pressure from anti-government demonstrations and strikes, reminiscent of the recent uprising in the country, Ratsiraka agreed in 1991 to democratic reforms.

A new, multiparty constitution was approved in 1992, and in 1993 Ratsiraka lost in elections to Albert Zafy, who was later impeached. Ratsiraka, who leads the island's largest party, Arema, was voted back into power in an election marked by widespread apathy.

Ravalomanana was until recently known only as the multi-millionaire owner of the largest non-foreign owned company operating on the island. Ravalomanana's promises of jobs for everyone have not fallen on deaf ears.

Furthermore, as vice-president of the Protestant church, Ravalomanana has won himself many allies in a country where the majority of the population are devout Christians