Marc Ravalomanana News

A former Madagascar president says he has been unable to return to his homeland since participating in talks in Mozambique that angered Madagascar's current leader.

Maputo - Three of Madagascar's leading powerbrokers opened a new round of talks on Friday meant to clear the way to forming a unity government, but without the island's strongman Andry Rajoelina.

A joint statement from the African Union, the United Nations and the International Organisation of the Francophonie, a network of French-speaking countries, said former Mozambique president Chissano would be on the islandwithout giving further details.

Roy Laishley 25 November 2009 An apparent surge in the purchase of African land by foreign companies and governments to grow food and other crops for export has set alarm bells ringing on and off the continent.

Reporting from Antananarivo, Madagascar - The man grabs a metal bar, raises it and shouts at several boys playing on a see-saw. The boys' faces freeze in fear.

The appointment of Madagascan national unity government was postponed indefinitely despite the schedule released on Saturday.

Two near misses by huge storms rolling in from the Indian Ocean have signalled an early start to Madagascar's cyclone season, prompting the humanitarian community to appeal for "urgent" preparedness funding.

Reporting from Berenty, Madagascar - She was the spy who was undone by a furry little creature with huge, hypnotic eyes.

Madagascar's political leaders will meet next week to break the deadlock over the make-up of a unity government called for in power-sharing deal, one of the country's two co-president said on Saturday.

Madagascar, which has been isolated from landmasses for more than 160m years, is the world's fourth largest island and a "conservation hotspot" with thousands of exotic species found only here.

The Security Council today welcomed the power-sharing agreement reached by Madagascar's current and former leaders, and urged the political forces to end months of internal strife with the establishment of a new Government.

According to the agreement, President Andry Rajoelina [official profile, in French] will now share power with representatives of the parties of ousted president Marc Ravalomanana [BBC profile] and former president Albert Zafy.

Fifty heads of state will meet in Rome Sunday to examine the way that rich Middle Eastern and Asian states are buying up vast tracts of farmland in Africa, often secretly, in what is seen as a massive land grab that will worsen conditions in the world's hungriest continent.

The agreement reached in Addis Ababa by the four political movements of Madagascar is stirring hopes among the population of Madagascar, but also some apprehension about its implementation.

Southern African News Features Southern Africa : SADC - Region is Addressing Its Challenges Kizito Sikuka 9 November 2009 The SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security has expressed satisfaction at the way the region is addressing the political situation in Lesotho, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.

The African Union said yesterday it would not re-admit Madagascar until a newly agreed power-sharing government was in place and fresh elections in the pipeline.

Madagascar's main political movements have extended talks in Addis Ababa aimed at patching over bitter rivalries preventing the formation of a transitional government.

Madagascar's leading politicians have reached agreement on ending 10 months of unrest.

The decree, announced by the transitional President Andry Rajoelina Saturday night, on the appointment of a consensus prime minister, Eugene Mangalaza, was canceled by the Madagascan State Council on Thursday.

The chiefs of four Madagascan political camps will probably meet in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, from November 3 to 5 which is aimed at ending the current political crisis in the island country, media reports said here on Monday.