MADAGASCAR: The opposition leader of Madagascar, Mr Marc Ravalomanana, declared himself president of the island republic in a move condemned by the international community. He was cheered by more than 100,000 supporters.
In response President Didier Ratsiraka declared a national state of emergency and gave himself sweeping political powers.
At a mass rally organised in a sports stadium, Mr Ravalomanana took the presidential oath, dramatically raising the stakes in a dispute over the December 16th presidential election.
"Before God and the people, I accept the office of president of the republic and pledge to devote my energy and knowledge towards national unity and human rights," Mr Ravalomanana said in Malagasy.
He maintains that he won the election outright with 52.15 per cent of the vote. But official results released by the High Constitutional Court showed the opposition leader to have won 46.21 per cent and the incumbent, Mr Ratsiraka, 40.89 per cent, a result which makes a run-off necessary.
The first international reaction came from France, the former colonial power. Paris condemned the "attempted takeover" and urged Mr Ravalomanana to return to the negotiating table.
In Madagascar, Mr Ravalomanana's swearing-in as president drew a strong reaction from the Senate president, Mr Honore Rakotamanana, who condemned the proclamation as "illegal." Mr Ratsiraka, who was not in the capital, had no immediate reaction.
But an official at his office called the ceremony a coup d'etat and a masquerade. "The Organisation of African Unity which had sought to resolve the dispute in talks, said it "firmly" condemned the move and called on the international community to reject this "illegal action".
Security forces and police were noticeably absent from the area surrounding the sports stadium.