Coup attempting officers holed up Madagascar

A group of military officers was holed up in a base near the Antananarivo's airport Thursday, a day after they tried to stage a coup in Madagascar, reports Chicago Sun-Times.

Andry Rajoelina, a former disc jockey who seized power with military backing last year, appeared confident of his hold on power. On Wednesday he told reporters the majority of the military was behind him.

The capital was calm Thursday, with no sign forces loyal to Rajoelina would try to oust the mutinous officers from the base where they had gathered.

Former President Albert Zafy, who ruled the Indian Ocean island nation from 1993 to 1996, said he supported the officers and their attempt to take power from Rajoelina.

"We hope they prevail," he told The Associated Press.

Zafy joined Marc Ravalomanana, the president ousted by Rajoelina, and another former president, Didier Ratsiraka, in trying to seek a negotiated way out of the crisis set off by Rajoelina's rise to power last year. But Rajoelina has rejected mediation efforts, imposing his own plan he says will lead to new presidential elections some time next year.

Rajoelina held a constitutional referendum Wednesday. His proposal largely resembles the existing constitution, but a key new clause states that the current leader of a so-called High Transitional Authority - Rajoelina - would remain in power until a new president is elected. That was seen as a bid by Rajoelina to stay in power indefinitely because there was no certainty new elections would be held.

The proposed constitution also sets the minimum age to be president at 35 instead of the current 40. Rajoelina is 36.
Voting in the referendum continued largely peacefully Wednesday even after the officers' declaration, which was broadcast only in part on one independent TV station.

The military has grown increasingly impatient with Rajoelina, who has been internationally isolated and accused of trampling on democracy. The West has frozen all but emergency and humanitarian aid for the impoverished island.