-- The UN Security Council Tuesday welcomed the power-sharing agreement reached by Madagascar's current and former leaders, and urged the political forces to end months of internal
strife by establishing a new government.
The four present and past leaders -- Andry Nirina Rajoelina, Marc Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy -- of the Indian Ocean nation struck the deal following talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Nov. 6.
Under the agreement, Andry Rajoelina remains President of Madagascar. And there will be two new co-presidents instead of vice presidents.
Ravalomanana has named Fetison Andrianirina, a close ally and former head of his negotiation team, as one co-president. The post of the other co-president has been assigned to Emmanuel
Rakotovahiny, from the political movement of former president Alert Zafy.
In early August, the four leaders reached another power-sharing deal but were subsequently unable to agree on the composition of a transitional government.
The 15-member UN Security Council encouraged the Malagasy political forces "to rapidly conclude the formation of the government," Ambassador
Thomas Mayr-Harting of Austria, which holds the Security Council's rotating presidency for November, told reporters after a closed-door meeting.
Mayr-Harting said the Security Council supported the efforts of the United Nations in the process, in particular the election consultation team which was sent this week.
In addition, it encourages the joint mediation team to continue its efforts to help implement the next steps agreed in Addis Ababa, in
particular the referendum on the Constitution and the organization of the elections.
For almost a year, Madagascar has been engulfed by political controversy that culminated in the resignation in March of President Marc
Ravalomanana.
The opposition has protested the worsening standard of living despite a government drive to eradicate poverty. And last year Rajoelina's TV station was forced to close for broadcasting a speech against then President Ravalomanana, which triggered massive protests in this Indian Ocean island.