Madagascar slams global community

ANTANANARIVO, Monday

Madagascar's new army-backed government has criticised the international community's refusal to recognise it and singled out the US ambassador for a stinging attack.

Months of political instability on the world's fourth largest island have devastated its $390 million-a-year tourism sector and caused concern among foreign investors exploring potentially vast oil and mineral reserves.

Prime Minister Roindefo Monja said that the African Union and European Union, both of which have refused to recognise Andry Rajoelina's interim government, had been hasty in branding March's overthrow of former president Marc Ravalomanana a coup.

"You are our technical and financial partners but before saying there had been a coup, before taking decisions, you should have listened to our version of events," he said late on Sunday.

Rajoelina, a former disc jockey and Africa's youngest incumbent president, seized power after dissident troops backed his challenge to Ravalomanana's leadership.

Several donors including the United States and Norway, have suspended non-emergency assistance while the International Monetary Fund told Reuters last Friday that it too had frozen aid over the country's political crisis.

Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries and foreign donors make up 70 percent of the Indian Ocean island's budget.

Analysts say the government faces a steep challenge ensuring public sector and military salaries are paid as tax receipts decline.

Monja reserved his strongest words for America in a thinly veiled personal attack on the US envoy, Niels Marquardt.

"It surprises me that before the crisis he (Marquardt) said Americans were going to quit Madagascar. Three months later he is still there. Nobody is forcing him to stay," Monja said.

Marquardt, a leading critic has dismissed working with Rajoelina. He suggested trade agreements between the two countries would be compromised if there is no presidential poll before the end of 2009.

"Those who are not happy can leave. The Malagasy people are sovereign," Monja said. (Reuters)