AU holds firm as Madagascan parties agree on new accord

Despite a new political accord in Madagascar under which coup leader Andry Rajoelina will remain president, the African Union will maintain its suspension of the island nation. The AU says that until a newly agreed power-sharing government is in place and fresh elections are agreed on, jockeying for 31 cabinet posts is likely to cause ongoing conflict. The country’s four main political parties have agreed to create a 258-member transitional congress, after deposed president Marc Ravalomanana had earlier said he would not sign any agreement recognising Rajoelina as head of an interim administration. Read more: Reuters, Bloomberg, All Africa.com