Rajoelina's regime sets 2010 date for presidential poll

Madagascar's army-backed transitional authority, led by Andry Rajoelina (photo), has called for the organisation of a presidential election in October 2010 during a reconciliation conference held in the capital Antananarivo. Fresh presidential elections in Madagascar are to be held in October 2010, a reconciliation conference organised by the island's new army-backed regime recommended Friday.This conference "kicks off a democratic renewal and foreshadows the strength of the democracy we want to preserve in Madagascar," the island's new leader Andry Rajoelina said in the conference's closing speech.Rajoelina, who ousted Marc Ravalomanana last month with the army's support, had pledged upon being sworn in that fresh presidential elections would be organised within 24 months."We acknowledge that we will stay (in power) only for 19 months," Rajoelina said at the forum, held in the capital Madagascar.On the second and last day of a conference involving Rajoelina's movement as well as other political parties, religious and military leaders, resolutions were adopted offering a timeline for the country's transition.Although Rajoelina's takeover at the helm of the Indian Ocean nation was described as a coup by the international community, the 34-year-old was sworn in last month as the president of a transitional authority.Friday's forum -- which gathered some 1,200 participants -- said a national conference tasked with revising the electoral law and the constitution should be launched by June 26 this year.