AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Unidentified hit-men try to set fire on the residence of Archbishop of Antananarivo; “the political conflict runs the risk of degenerating into a religious conflict”

Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) - “The situation remains tense, as well, as the political conflict runs the risk of degenerating into a religious conflict,” sources from Radio Don Bosco told Agenzia Fides, reporting from Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. “This evening, March 12, several unidentified persons tried to set fire to the residence of Archbishop Odon Marie Arsène Razanakolona of Antananarivo. The police intervention kept it from getting any worse,” our sources said.
“On the political level, the meeting scheduled to take place today between President Ravalomanana and former mayor of Antananarivo Rajoelina, has been called off and it seems that the military is gaining an important say in the issue. The new Chief of Staff, General André Andriarijaona was installed by the members of the military themselves, and not the President, as the law originally states.”
The new Chief of Staff has called off the 72-hour ultimatum posed by his predecessor, General Rasolofomahandry, in an effort to place pressure on politicians to find a solution. “The soldiers, however, continue to place pressures on the politicians to reach an agreement, although they affirm that they do not wish to conduct a coups d'etat and impose a military regime. However, there is still uncertainty as to the situation of the armed forces and the police. It seems, however, evident that the majority of the military are siding with the soldiers of the CAPSAT (Corps d'Administration des Personnels et Services de l'Armée de Terre), who have recently conducted a revolt, refusing to fire on unarmed civilians. The security forces have also sided with them and in the coming hourse, we will see whether or not the police join them as well,” our sources said.
“The rebel soldiers affirm that they are neutral and simply wish to place pressures so as to help the country to emerge from the crisis, however they have in fact sided with the main opposition leader, the former mayor of the capital, Rajoelina. President Ravalomanana appears increasingly more isolated, to such a point that the military has taken possession of the president's airplane, perhaps to keep him from being able to escape. All things considered, the crisis is causing concern for the future of the island,” Fides sources concluded. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 12/3/2009)