国际英语新闻：Madagascan rivals agree to stop violent demonstration

ANTANANARIVO, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana and his rival Andry Rajoelina agreed here on Saturday afternoon to stop provocation and violent demonstration, Christian Church leaders said.

    According to a statement issued here late Saturday afternoon by the Christian Council of Churches, the two leaders agreed to stop provocation and hatreds disseminated by each of their media during the meeting, exclusive of any media reporters.

Chairman of the Christian Council of Churches Bishop Odon Razanakolona issues a statement achieved after the meeting between Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana and his rival Andry Rajoelina, in Antananarivo Feb. 21, 2009

The meeting, which lasted for 15 minutes, was the first between Ravalomanana and Rajoelina, who proclaimed himself president of the island country early this month.

    The two sides also agreed to stop diffusion of wrong information and halt robbery and destruction of private goods and public properties.

    Street demonstrations would also be stopped while the government promised to stop arrest of those who led the demonstrations.

    The two leaders agreed to facilitate next dialogue between them and promised to encourage their supporters to respect these agreements.

    The statement said that the meeting was held calmly and fraternally with the presence of the Christian Churches leaders.

    Established in 1980, the Christian Council of Churches in Madagascar is an organization of churches, included Catholic Church, Church of Jesus Christ, Malagasy Episcopal Church (Anglican) and Malagasy Lutheran Church.

    As a pious Christian, President Ravalomanana is also one of the leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar while Andry Rajoelina is a member of the Catholic Church leadership, which chairs the Christian council.

    The agreement was made following intense international mediation efforts between the two sides.

    Delegations from the United Nations, the African Union, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union visited the country earlier this month, trying to convince Ravalomanana and his rival Rajoelina to sit down together for a dialogue.

    Before leaving the country on Thursday, Lutfo Dlamini, head of the SADC delegation, told the media that SADC opposed any attempt to violate the constitution of the island country and to overthrow a government elected by the people.

    He said that he was optimistic about the possibility of a talk between Ravalomanana and Rajoelina, saying that SADC would encourage any efforts to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the current political crisis, which began last December.