US, EU 'worried' over political tensions in Madagascar
The European Union
and the United States on Monday expressed concern about the
"disproportionate use of force" to disperse opposition demonstrations
in Madagascar, amid tensions ahead of presidential elections.
The country's top court last week ordered the vote be postponed by one week to November 16, after a presidential candidate was injured during one of almost daily protest rallies that have rocked the Indian Ocean island nation over the past two weeks.
In a joint statement, representatives of the EU, US and seven other countries and international organisations including France, Germany and Japan, said they were "worried" about the "tense political climate" in Madagascar.
They stressed the importance of respecting freedom of expression, association and assembly, and called on all parties to "exercise the utmost restraint" and engage in dialogue.
It came after a statement from the group last month saying it was following the run-up to the vote with the "greatest vigilance".
Eleven out of 13 opposition candidates have been demonstrating against what they call an "institutional coup" to keep outgoing president Andry Rajoelina in power.
Earlier this month, presidential hopeful Andry Raobelina suffered a facial injury as police fired tear gas on demonstrators, prompting the constitutional court to put back the elections.
But the opposition has vowed to keep holding protests.
The United Nations has also expressed concern over the "deteriorating human rights situation" in the country.
Rajoelina first took power in 2009 on the back of a coup.
After not running in the 2013 election due to international pressure, he returned to power in 2018.
He has since held the reins in a country that remains among the poorest in the world despite vast natural resources.
