/ 6 December 2000

MADAGASCAR’S RULING PARTY LEADS POLL

THE ruling Avant-Garde for Madagascan Renewal (AREMA) has emerged victorious in most cities except the capital after weekend polls for new provincial administrations. Turnout in Sunday’s proportional representation elections, which will eventually lead to the creation of six provincial governments after more than a century of extreme centralism, was about 30%. Results out so far are for 570 of 1648 polling stations- AFP