Govt seeks "final solution" to reservists demands

Madagascar's ministry of defence on Wednesday said it would seek a "final solution" to a four-month standoff with army reservists who are demanding better compensation for their efforts during the country's political crisis in 2002. On Tuesday 28 people were injured as security forces scuffled with army reservists in yet another protest in the capital, Antananarivo. Defence ministry media officer Paul Andre confirmed that the injuries occurred after one reservist let off a grenade during a demonstration in the city's main square. Last month the reservists blocked the main route to the parliament buildings in a bid to force MPs to address their demands. In February Ravalomanana offered the reservists US $175 each as compensation, but the protestors were asking for up to US $2,000 to cover their expenses, including a risk premium and family and rent allowances. "There are elements among the reservists who are not interested in peaceful negotiations. The [defence] minister has identified those individuals and said that any further acts of violence will not be tolerated. But the government will remain open until a final solution is found to this problem," Andre told IRIN. He noted that the government had already paid out a "substantial sum" of money to the reservists since negotiations began four months ago. "While President [Marc] Ravalomanana has said he is willing to talk, he has also insisted that patriotism cannot be bought or sold," Andre said. About 2,600 former members of the army and police were called on to support Ravalomanana during the tussle for control of the Indian Ocean island, sparked by disputed elections held in December 2001.