Libya’s Gaddafi meets Madagascar’s president

African Union chairman Muammar Gaddafi held talks with Madagascar‘s President Andry Rajoelina, but reports of the meeting in Libyan state media suggested the AU still refused to recognise him as the island’s head of state.

“Rajoelina briefed the leader on the developments of the situation in Madagascar and insisted that he came to Libya especially to take advice from the leader,” Libyan news agency Jana quoted Rajoelina as saying after meeting the Libyan leader Gaddafi late on Sunday.

Libyan state media referred to Rajoelina only as “Andry Rajoelina” or the man who “declared himself the head of the High Transitional Presidency”, suggesting the AU chairman was sticking to the group’s refusal to recognise him as president, Reuters says.

The 53-member body suspended the Indian Ocean island in March after Rajoelina took over from the elected leader with the help of renegade soldiers, calling his seizure of power “a coup”.

Several donors including the International Monetary Fund have suspended non-emergency aid to Madagascar. Foreign leaders have called for quick elections to stop months of political instability.

Rajoelina arrived in Libya on Saturday for a three-day official visit.

“Rajoelina called on the (Libyan) leader to pursue his initiatives towards restoring stability in Madagascar and to hold elections there because he enjoys respect across Africa,” Jana said.