Editor,

I learnt with a great deal of concern and a great deal of sadness that Madagascar is at the verge of all out civil war.

Look at the way President Marc Ravalomanana has been involved in a power struggle with opposition leader Andry Rajoelina. This kind of power struggle is completely uncalled for and indeed out dated.

I was not therefore surprised when President Ravalomanana, on Tuesday, gave a rare national address, in which he admitted to making mistakes and called for an end to violence after two days of looting in the capital Antananarivo.

I advise the two protagonists in the country to avoid an outbreak of civil war.

Nyamagabe