Francophone countries send mediation team

A four-member mediation team from the organisation of Francophone countries was expected in Madagascar on Thursday to open talks between the government and opposition in a bid to resolve the country's political crisis, diplomatic sources told IRIN.

As the team was due to arrive, AFP reported that more than 500,000 people gathered again at the May 13 Square in Antananarivo in answer to an opposition call to protest the alleged rigging of the presidential election in December.

A general strike called by opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana to press his claim that he won the 16 December poll was costing the country between US $8-14 million a day, according to a statement in Antananarivo by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. On Thursday the strike entered its eleventh day. Flights have been grounded, offices and many businesses - including the central bank - have closed.

The "Francophonie" mediation team led by Guy Penne, an adviser to former French president François Mitterand, was expected to stay in the country until Sunday. The delegation also includes parliamentarians from France, Cameroon and Mauritius.

"So far both sides have said they will cooperate with the mission, but we don't know its scope or terms," a diplomat in Antananarivo said.

Ravalomanana and his supporters insist that he won the December election outright. But the country's top court ordered that he must face President Didier Ratsiraka in a run-off later this month. Ratsiraka has ruled Madagascar for two decades.