The four former Madagascan presidents insist on their participation in the presidential election planned within 14 months.

Representatives of the four presidents, Andry Rajoelina, Marc Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy, expressed belief on Friday that the big four could be candidates for a national election in the Indian Ocean island country set for next year.

It is a development after international mediators led by UN special envoy Tiebile Drame proposed two weeks ago to exclude the four presidents from the next election.

Local media reported on Saturday that the international contact group retreated from its position facing the irreconcilable stand by the four politicians.

The presidents have been asking for special status, their dignity and safety.

They also agreed that the transition period would not exceed 14 months from the date of signing a relevant agreement.

The development came in the second phase of time-consuming negotiations following the failed two-day consultations held last month at the Senegal Embassy in the capital Antananarivo. The third phase of bargaining is set for Monday.

The international mediators, including special envoys from the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and the international organization of French-speaking countries, are looking to Madagascan stakeholders to sign the charter of transition at the third phase of negotiation.

Mediators have proposed an eight-institution body for the transitional period, including the high transitional authority, the government of national unity, the transitional congress, the national council of reconciliation and the committee of truth and reconciliation, the economic and social council, the high court of transition, the reflection committee on defense and national security and the independent electoral commission.

The body, if accepted, would be one of the compromises reached between the mediators and Madagascan politicians in the last two weeks.

Whether an agreement can be signed and implemented is still a big question mark.

Local media reported on Saturday that former president Didier Ratsiraka had called his representatives to leave the negotiation table, saying conditions were not ready for a peaceful, honest and constructive dialogue.

"I rejected the coup and the self-proclamation of Mr. Marc Ravalomanana in 2002. In the same way, I condemn the self-proclamation, the coup and the policy of Mr. Andry Rajoelina (president of the high transitional authority), whom I helped at the beginning of the current political crisis," Ratsiraka said in an open letter.

Ravalomanana replaced Ratsiraka as president of the country in2002 after a 6-month stalemate between them following the national election at the end of 2001.

Rajoelina, 34, proclaimed to be president of the country at a mass gathering on Feb.7 and was sworn in on March 21.

Midi, a French-language daily, said on Saturday that UN special envoy Drame and the representative of International Organization of French-speaking countries, Eden Kodjo, who left here Friday night, would not attend the signing ceremony, even if it would be signed on schedule next Monday.

Source:Xinhua