The European Union (EU) on Friday encouraged the rival parties of Madagascar, president Marc Ravalomanana and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, former major of the capital city, to solve their dispute through dialogue.
EU representative to Madagascar Jean Claude Boidin told a press conference here in the afternoon that EU would not want to propose a solution to the stalemate between the two sides, which has led to a deadly riot last week.
Instead, EU encourage the rival parties to solve their dispute through talks, Boidin said.
The international community, including the United Nations, the African Union, the United States and France, have also urged the two sides to seek a peaceful solution to their confrontation, which was agreed by Ravalomanana but rejected by Rajoelina.
United Nations special envoy Haile Menkerios, the deputy head of the UN political department, is scheduled to arrive in Madagascar on Saturday to assess on how to stop further violence after more than 70 killed in the riot.
A UN statement said that Menkerios' task would be "to assess the situation in the country and explore what the United Nations could do to help avert further violence and contribute towards peace and stability in Madagascar."