Rural Madagascans go to the polls

[dArKeR]

Antananarivo - Municipal elections got under way calmly in rural areas of Madagascar on Sunday, a vote expected to consolidate the support base of President Marc Ravalomanana.

At least six million voters are taking part in the vote in about 1 500 rural communities across the island off the southeast African coast, officials said. Urban areas will vote on November 23.

Ravalomanana's I Love Madagascar (TIM) party, is fielding 1 439 candidates, according to party president Solofonantenaina Razoarimihaja, who said: "If we take 1 000 municipalities, that would be a good result."

Another party, Asa Vita no Ifampitsarana (Judged by Your Work), which has close ties to TIM, is running run 900 candidates in the polls.

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