Antananarivo in the dark as military advances

For the second time in two weeks Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo was plunged into darkness after reports that another electricity pylon was blown up on Thursday. A top official in the government of President Marc Ravalomanana told French news agency AFP that he suspected supporters of rival leader Didier Ratsiraka, although no arrests had been made. The latest act of political sabotage came amid continued fighting in the northern town of Ambilobe where at least three people were reportedly killed in a skirmish between the two camps. For the last few days, troops loyal to Ravalomanana have been advancing towards the northern port of Antsiranana, one of Ratsiraka's last strongholds. Over the past two weeks, Ravalomanana's forces have dismantled the blockades to the port cities of Mahajanga and Toliara. The blockade around Antananarivo in place since the start of the crisis in December, has been a contentious issue both locally and abroad. Despite numerous calls from civil society and the international community for the lifting of the barricades, Ratsiraka's supporters have refused to budge on the issue. In a further attempt to isolate Ravalomanana's government in Antananarivo, several key bridges on roads leading to the capital were destroyed by Ratsiraka loyalists. Meanwhile, in what was seen as a major boost for Ravalomanana on Wednesday, the United States became the first major power to formally recognise the millionaire dairy tycoon as the country's president. About 80 percent of Madagascar's foreign reserves are held in the United States while the remainder is held in Paris. These had been frozen during the six-month political stalemate when it was not clear who was running the country. Analysts told IRIN that the unfreezing of the foreign reserves would enable the Ravalomanana government to pay debts to oil companies, buy additional fuel and essential medicines. A political economist in Antananarivo, Pepe Andranomanana, said: "With America on Ravalomanana's side, it sends a clear signal to Ratsiraka that both his political and economic grip on power has slipped. Also the American endorsement will probably persuade other foreign powers to support Ravalomanana and in doing so isolate Ratsiraka diplomatically." Andranomanana added that it was critical that a solution to the protracted crisis be found soon to avoid the economy slipping into deeper recession. The United States also called for political reconciliation between the two men vying for political power on the island. The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and former colonial power France have not recognised either one as leader. At the OAU emergency meeting in Ethiopia last week, delegates decided to freeze the country's seat.