MADAGASCAR: Madagascar's president casts his vote, says happy with the elections

The Indian Ocean island of Madagascar voted on Sunday (December 3) in an election expected to return dairy tycoon Marc Ravalomanana to a second term as president of one of the world's poorest countries. Ravalomanana, who built a fortune after hawking yoghurts from the back of a bike, has campaigned on his record of economic reforms and infrastructure building. The opposition says his policies are mistaken and he has not done enough to reverse grinding poverty on the island. A steady stream of voters cast ballots by selecting a card bearing a photograph of their favoured candidate. Some 7 million people are eligible to vote on the world's fourth biggest island, which stretches for 1,590 km (nearly 1,000 miles) off the east coast of Africa. There were no reports of trouble in the country, where the biggest fear is of a repeat of an eight-month political crisis after the last election in 2001 which came close to civil war. A half-hearted coup attempt last month by a renegade general raised tensions but has been dismissed as a farce. Officials said rocks were placed on roads into the central town of Fianarantsoa on Saturday in an apparent attempt to obstruct voters. "We have already brought the situation under control," said Hanta Rabeteliana, head of the local region. Ravalomanana, a devout Christian, voted after attending church in the capital. Wearing his trademark red tie with a dark suit jacket slung over one shoulder, he told a crowd of local and international journalists he would win. "I am very, very proud. It is a big challenge for us in Madagascar to organise democratic, free and transparent elections," he said. Ravalomanana has conducted a slick, Western-style campaign, touring the whole country by helicopter and using his wealth, media empire and presidential power to eclipse lacklustre efforts by his rivals. Many Madagascans believe he could win outright by taking more than 50 percent of votes on Sunday. If he falls short, a second round will be held 30 days after results are published, which is expected at the end of December. Even veteran politician Norbert Lala Ratsirahonana, 68, a former prime minister who is considered the strongest challenger, seemed resigned to defeat. "I am not brimming over with hope but I have confidence in God. That will not stop me thinking I will be present in the second round." Ratsirahonana said he was unhappy at reports that some people had not received voting cards or were not on electoral rolls. He also complained that some of his officials had not received the accreditation necessary to monitor voting. Paul Berenger, an international observer from Mauritius, told Reuters: "Okay, there are some problems with the electoral lists and voting cards and so on, but today it is working well." Ravalomanana, a former mayor of the capital, won power in 2002, mobilising mass demonstrations and military power to force out President Didier Ratsiraka after a disputed election. Madagascar is the world's biggest vanilla producer, a source of precious gems and has potentially rich mineral resources including oil, as well as many tourist attractions. But 75 percent of its 18 million people live on less than $1 a day.

ITN Source | December 3, 2006

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