Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds said:

I welcome the announcement of a new electoral timetable in Madagascar, following the decisive action of the Madagascar Special Electoral Court in revising the list of Presidential candidates. I strongly encourage all Malagasies to respect the decision of the Supreme Electoral Court and to work together to respect the electoral process in support of democratic, free and fair elections.

I would like also to express my appreciation for all the efforts made by Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediator Chissano and Commissioner Lamamra of the African Union to return Madagascar to internationally-recognised constitutional government.

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