Rally boosts Madagascar president as favourite

Marc Ravalomanana, the Madagascan president

More than 30 000 supporters crammed into the last campaign rally by Marc Ravalomanana, the Madagascan president, yesterday dwarfing his rivals' efforts and confirming him as frontrunner in tomorrow's election.

The crowd, wearing white caps and T-shirts decorated with Ravalomanana's face, filled the stands and playing area at a football stadium in the capital of this Indian Ocean island, one of the world's poorest countries.

Ravalomanana, a handsome, self-made dairy tycoon, received a pop-star welcome from the crowds who overwhelmed stewards and swept through barriers to surround the podium, singing along to campaign songs as the president waved a party flag. Women screamed when he smiled towards their section of the crowd. Several people fainted in the heat during his speech, punctuated by entertainment from local pop groups and traditional singers and dancers.

Ravalomanana's opponents have attracted less than 10 000 people to their biggest rallies and several meetings have flopped with only a few hundred turning up. His top two rivals mustered a total of around 800 people in their separate closing campaign rallies yesterday and most opposition candidates have run lacklustre campaigns.

Self made dairy tycoon, boasts economic success

Ravalomanana, who built a business empire after hawking yoghurts from the back of a bike, is campaigning on his record of economic reforms and infrastructure development in the world's fourth largest island. "Many things have been done. Many things have changed. It can all be seen," Ravalomanana told the cheering crowd, predicting he would win outright by taking more than 50% of the first round vote, a forecast supported by several Western diplomats.

Ravalomanana (56) won power in 2002 after a disputed election and an eight-month crisis which ended when he used massive street protests and military power to oust Didier Ratsiraka, the former president. Ravalomanana's supporters said he deserves re-election to complete his economic and social reforms.

Ravalomanana deserves re election: supporters

"We are all convinced. We are very satisfied with the many changes he has made during his first term - roads, schools, hospitals," said Allain Marius, a tour driver in the crowd. Gisele Rahantarisoa, an agricultural machinery salesperson, was also enthusiastic. "Five years is not enough. We must continue. You need more than five years to construct a nation." The opposition says the election is unfair because of the way Ravalomanana has used state power and his own media empire. His wealth has also been key in running a superior campaign.

Norbert Lala Ratsirahonana, the former prime minister, called his last political meeting in a hall in the city after a street parade was banned by the mayor - an ally of the president.

Madagascar, biggest vanilla producer

The second strongest challenger Herizo Razafimahaleo, a businessman and former deputy prime minister, attracted around 500 people to his final rally on open ground in a northern suburb. Western donors, who support Ravalomanana for his economic reforms and drive to modernise a country where tradition has major cultural importance, said the election has been fairly run. Madagascar is the world's biggest vanilla producer, a source of precious gems and has potentially rich mineral resources including oil, as well as many tourist attractions. But 75% of its 18 million people live on less than $1 a day. - Reuters

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