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Former Madagascar President Addresses Supporters


Madagascar's ousted president Marc Ravalomanana has addressed his supporters through a recorded message, calling on them to protect the country.

The former president's comments were played to a crowd of at least 5,000 supporters who rallied in Madagascar's capital for the third straight day Wednesday.

Ravalomanana, who described his ouster as a "coup," told the demonstrators that they would see him again.

The former president is currently in Swaziland, where officials say he arrived Monday, more than a week after he was forced to resign.

Mr. Ravalomanana met Tuesday with Swaziland's King Mswati who chairs the security committee of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Swaziland will host a summit of the 15-nation group next week to discuss possible sanctions against Madagascar's new president, Andry Rajoelina.

Mr. Rajoelina came to power on a wave of sometimes-violent protests that began in January.

Mr. Rajoelina, the former mayor of Antananarivo, has said he will hold elections within 24 months, but is being pressured by regional leaders to hold them sooner.

Many nations say Mr. Rajoelina's assumption of power was nothing less than a coup.

The African Union suspended Madagascar's membership last Friday, and the United States and Norway have cut all non-humanitarian aid.


Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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