ANTANANARIVO, Wednesday
Madagascar's new army-backed government offered on Wednesday to start talks with allies of ousted President Marc Ravalomanana to defuse political tensions that risk prolonging the months-long crisis.
Faced with international condemnation and daily protests against his rise, President Andry Rajoelina's government said national reconciliation talks were scheduled for April 2-3.
They would include discussions of when to hold a new presidential poll, the government said.
Foreign powers and Ravalomanana supporters say Rajoelina's assumption of power last week, after the former president handed over to the military, was effectively a coup d'etat.
Members of Ravalomanana's political party declined to say whether they would participate in the proposed dialogue.
Rajoelina has vowed to hold an election within two years, but is under pressure to do that sooner.
Unrest prior to Ravalomanana's fall killed at least 135 people, crippled the island's $390 million-a-year tourism sector, and unnerved foreign investors in the Indian Ocean island's burgeoning mine and oil industries.
While the violence has stopped, the spectre of more trouble remains as thousands of Ravalomanana supporters rally daily at a park in the capital Antananarivo. Some 12,000 gathered on Wednesday for the third consecutive day.
Foreign sanctions
Rajoelina's communications minister, Augustin Andriamananoro, told Reuters next week's talks were intended to include "all stakeholders", meaning government, military, church and opposition parties.
"The talks will fix the timetable for elections and tackle the points to address further down the line with regard to the elaboration of a new constitution or electoral code," he said.
At 34, Rajoelina, a former disc jockey and successful businessman who spent nearly two years as Antananarivo mayor, is Africa's youngest president.
Ravalomanana, 59, who stepped down when the military swung behind Rajoelina, has been in Swaziland ahead of a meeting of the South African Development Community (SADC) for a summit where Madagascar and Zimbabwe will top the agenda.
The Africa Union has suspended Madagascar and SADC leaders are considering sanctions on Rajoelina's fledgling administration when they meet on March 30. A SADC envoy met Rajoelina in Madagascar on Wednesday.
The UN envoy to Madagascar, Haile Menkerios, told Reuters on Tuesday a national conference would be crucial to resolving the crisis and cautioned that a delay in holding elections could trigger more deaths.
"I cannot yet answer whether or not we will be taking part," said Raharinaivo Andrianantoandro, spokesman for Ravalomanana's party.
Another aide to Ravalomanana -- whose camp insists he remains Madagascar's legal president -- said a recorded message from him would be played to the crowd at Wednesday's rally. (Reuters)