Chairman of Madagascan Christian Council of Churches Odon Razanakolona and UN Special Envoy Tiébilé Dramé announced in Antananarivo on Monday that a three-day national consultation would be held in Antananarivo from Thursday to find a peaceful solution to the current political crisis in the island country.
Razanakolona told reporters that the meeting between President Marc Ravalomanana, the sacked Antananarivo major Andry Rajoelina and representatives from political, economic and social sectors was a result of consultations with all parties concerned.
He expressed his hope that the meeting, which would be participated by some 90 representatives, would come out with a durable and rapid solution to the political stalemate that has been going on for nearly three months in the country.
Tiébilé Dramé, who arrived here last Wednesday in a mediation mission between Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina, informed the media that the opposition leader had been under protection of the UN since last Saturday and would remain at a diplomatic residency in the capital city till the end of meeting.
The UN made the decision to protect Rajoelina because he had expressed his anxiety on his security to many international representatives, Dramé explained.
Meetings Dramé last Saturday and again on Monday, President Ravalomanana promised to guarantee the security of his rival and his collaborators, saying that Rajoelina and his colleagues would not be arrested and could go out anywhere freely.
The promise was a precondition to ensure the conduction of the planned negotiation to seek a way out of the current political crisis, which began last December.
The mediator called on all opposite actors for a truce to give a chance to the success of the negotiation, thus ensuring the social stability, restoring the economic development and strengthening democracy in Madagascar.
At the press conference, also attended by diplomatic corps here, the Christian churches council and the UN appealed to all of the residents in the mountainous city to create a peaceful climate for the success of the decisive meeting.
President Ravalomanana and Rajoelina met for three time beginning from February 21 but stopped talking on February 29, when President Ravalomanana went to other areas of the island.
The political stalemate between President Ravalomanana and Rajoelina, the worst for years in the country, began last December when President Ravalomanana ordered to shut down the radio and television station owned to Rajoelina.