Madagascan officials not invited for U.S. Independent day

The United States Embassy here has not invited any officials under the Madagascan High Transitional Authority for its independent day celebration to be held at the embassy compound on Saturday.

A U.S. embassy official, who refused to be identified, confirmed the media reports, saying that the embassy has not invited any Madagascan politicians and government official except civil society leaders of the country for the American independent day celebration.

She told Xinhua through telephone that the U.S. Embassy decided not to invite any official under the High Transitional Authority, including its leader, former Antananarivo mayor Andry Rajoelina, because the United States does not recognize the transitional government of the Indian Ocean island country.

Rajoelina replaced former president Marc Ravalomanana as president of Madagascar on March 21 following 3-month stalemate between the two political rivals beginning in December.

Ravalomanana, who resigned on March 17 after giving his presidency to the military top brass, fled out of the country on March 25 and has living in exile in Swaziland and South Africa ever since.

The international community, including the United States, denounced the power transfer in Madagascar as unconstitutional and a coup, urging for peace solution through dialogue between the politicians of the country.

Washington, together with other donors and international organizations, suspended assistance to Madagascar, one of the least under-developed countries in the world, except humanitarian aid.

However, the United States agreed to provide a grant of 85 million U.S. dollars last month for food security of the world's fourth largest island.