Senior UN official to meet with Madagascar political leaders over election impasse

A senior United Nations official is on his way to Madagascar for meetings with political leaders to see if the UN can help the country out of its current deadlock following recent presidential elections, a UN spokesman said today.

The visit of UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahima Fall follows Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s telephone conversations with President Didier Ratsiraka and opposition leader Marc Ravalomanana, which prompted Mr. Annan to send his envoy to the country.

Mr. Fall, who is expected to arrive in Madagascar on Wednesday, will meet with both leaders and explore ways in which the UN could assist in overcoming the impasse, particularly in assuring that the second round of elections are conducted in a peaceful climate, the spokesman said.