Court orders new vote count in latest twist

In an unprecedented move Madagascar's Supreme Court on Wednesday annulled the disputed results of the 16 December presidential poll. The ruling means that votes have to be recounted, dealing yet another blow to incumbent president Didier Ratsiraka, analysts say. The court declared void a previous decision by the country's High Constitutional Court (HCC). The HCC upheld election figures which gave opposition candidate Marc Ravalomanana 46 percent of the vote and Ratsiraka just over 40 percent, a lead which was not big enough to avoid a second-round run-off. Election observers, churches and civil rights groups supported Ravalomanana's claims of irregularities. Analysts say that the ruling is a direct result of domestic and international presssure from civic organisations and the church in Madagascar to find an internal solution to the four-month long crisis which has claimed the lives of almost 35 people. "By doing away with the results, the court has not only de-legitimised the initial results, but has effectively instructed both candidates to stage another election; this time without the baggage of the last four months," political science lecturer Heidi Hudson, of the University of Stellenbosh, told IRIN. Meanwhile, as African leaders held separate meetings in Senegal with both men, a top ranking pro-government general was killed on Tuesday, raising fears of further divisions in the country's armed forces. General Raymond Andrianaivo was shot dead in his hospital bed after three masked gunmen entered the Fianarantsoa hospital, officials told AP. Fianarantsoa, 300 km south of the capital, Antananarivo, has become the scene of fresh clashes between government troops and opposition supporters. Andrianavo had been injured in an exchange of gunfire between two groups of Ratsiraka's supporters who mistook each other for supporters of his rival, the report added. At the weekend, five soldiers died and 18 others were injured in a struggle for control of the city. Analysts say that as attacks on the military become more frequent there will be more "serious confrontation with opposition supporters and those forces loyal to Ravalomanana". The army, until recently, has remained neutral in the conflict. "The army's initial refusal to enter the political fray has been commendable. However, because the crisis has dragged on for so long, it is inevitable that the military would have to decide where their loyalty is," political analyst Michel Davies, from the Asia/Africa Foundation, told IRIN on Wednesday. The army's first serious intervention in the dispute came in March, when Ravalomanana's supporters attempted to gain control of the national parliamentary complex. Although several people were reported injured in skirmishes, there were no deaths reported. "Contrary to what was expected, Ratsiraka has not capitulated and the generals realise that they had better continue to support him should he come out of this as the victor," Hudson said. Madagascar only has about 13,000 soldiers and 8,000 military police. While the military police are reasonably equipped and trained, only a small fraction of the army is believed to be battle-ready.