Ravalomanana assumes presidency for the second time

The international community on Monday was cautious in their show of support for Madagascar's new president, Marc Ravalomanana.

Although several western diplomats were present at the inauguration ceremony, most sent consular officials rather than ambassadors, news reports said.

The guarded approach was seen by analysts as the "most appropriate response" to the unresolved political row between Ravalomanana and veteran leader, Didier Ratsiraka. The former president called the investiture a "second coup d'etat".

Lucille Rabearabeorimanana, a political analyst at the University of Madagascar told IRIN: "The international community seems to be warming up to Ravalomanana but by sending their second-in-command, they don't want to give too much credence to either side. They don't want to undermine the decision by the country's highest court and yet they cannot afford to isolate Ratsiraka's supporters."

According to Roy Whitaker, a member of the US embassy delegation: "Our attendance was a sign of respect for the decision of the High Constitutional Court and the rule of law in the country. We remain committed to the Dakar accord and all that was agreed to by both men. We maintain that both men must continue to engage in dialogue in the interest of national reconciliation."

A French official in Antananarivo said that France would support Ravalomanana "on condition that concrete steps are taken to ensure that a new government reflects all the Malagasy people".

The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), however, has yet to come out in support of Madagascar's new president. Last week the pan-African body called for a referendum to chose between the two political rivals saying that it was the only solution to avoid the partition of the island.

Madagascar has been divided into two opposing camps since the 16 December election, which Ravalomanana won. But he failed to gain more than 50 percent of the vote needed for outright victory. The court then ordered a second round run-off. But Ravalomanana said the initial result was rigged and in February declared himself president.

The country's high court declared Ravalomanana president on 29 April, after a recount under the terms of a political agreement reached in Dakar, Senegal.

Ratsiraka refused to accept the result of the recount which gave Ravalomanana 51 percent of the vote. The governors of four provinces loyal to the former ruler unilaterally declared independence, sparking fears of a renewed political standoff.

Meanwhile, a new round of talks between the rivals will be held in Senegal in a bid to resolve the five-month long leadership crisis.

The Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade, said the talks would be held on 13-14 May, the French news agency AFP reported