They’re closing  between twice-elected former President Marc Ravalomana  and Andry Rajoelina who unseated him in a 2009 coup.

Neither Marc Ravalomanana nor Andry Rajoelina were permitted to run in the 2013 election won by Heri Rajoanarimampianini.

It was feared such a contest would drive the country back into conflict.

For this not to happen, it is vital that the result of today’s run-off is accepted by the loser.

With two bitter rivals running neck-and-neck that is by no means a given.

Rajoelina has demonstrated that he has the financial support, but Ravalomanana believes he can bring out the rural vote to get him across the line.

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It’s vital for the result of the poll to be accepted in the impoverished island state striving to grow out of years of political instability.

The European Union’s observer mission in Madagascar reports no anomalies in the election.

But party workers for many of the 36 candidates say many people were excluded from the voters’ roll.

Fewer than half the registered 10 million cast their ballots.

The contest looks like a two-horse race between former president Marc Ravalomanana and the man who ousted him in a 2009 coup Andry Rajoelina.

Incumbent Heri Rajoanarimampianini has faded in the latter stages of the campaign.

A run-off election between the two seems increasingly likely on December 19.

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AU Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma also condemns the ex president’s remarks at a press conference hours after reaching Antananarivo.

Marc Ravalomana claims his return from five years in exile in South Africa was facilitiated by the regional grouping SADC.

The African Union insists this is not so.

AU commission head Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma says the post coup government of Heri Rajoanarimampianini is recognised by the entire international community.

Denying this is an unacceptable provocation.

She welcome the spirit of responsibility and reconciliation shown by the Madagascar government.

Ravalomanana’s being held for his own safety, say Madagascar authorities.

He is unhurt. His health is followed by a doctor. His family may visit him.

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His family fear he has been injured and are demanding to know his whereabouts to get him medical attention.

Madagascar President Heri Rajoanarimampiani says Marc Ravalomanana is being held for his own safety at an undisclosed venue.

The arrival of 60 men wearing balaclavas at the Ravalomanana home in the capital yesterday led to the initial belief that he’d been seized by a renegade group.

It’s now acknowledged the men who came in 15 vehicles carrying assault rifles were security forces.

Ravalomanana’s son Tojo questions Rajaonarimampianina’s assertion that his father’s been moved to safety away from various threats against him.
 

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Ravalomanana slipped into the island state on Sunday, leaving South Africa, where he’s spent five years in exile, without a passport.

Madagascar president Heri Rajoanarimampiani told South Africa’s ambassador Gert Grobler today that ousted president Marc Ravalomanana’s being held outside the capital Antananarivo for his own safety.

About 60 mean wearing balaclavas shot their way into the Ravalomanana home yesterday, breaking four doors in their operation seizing him.

His family say he was injured and his chronic medication was left behind.

Ravalomamana was seen by friends entering a helicopter today.

Rajoanarimampianini told Grobler that the former president had been moved to another location this morning.

He said there were elements threatening to kill the former president

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Key ambassadors in Antananarivo, including South Africa’s envoy Gert Grobler met in the capital today to decide how best to react to this destabilising development on the island state struggling to regain normalcy after the 2009 coup that overthrew Ravalomanana.

South African ambassador Gert Grobler met Madagascar President Heri Rajoanarimampianini this morning.

He discounted reports that Marc Ravalomanana returned to Madagascar with South African and SADC support.

The role of a South African registered aircraft, that brought Ravalomanana to an airport south of the capital is being investigated.

Grobler says Ravalomanana’s unscheduled return might be an opportunity for Rajoanarimampianini to sit down with former presidents and discuss national reconciliation.

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