Madagascar president to ask EU to maintain aid

By Alain Iloniaina

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Army-backed President Andry Rajoelina left for Brussels early on Saturday hoping to persuade the European Union not to suspend aid to Madagascar, its economy hit by political turmoil and the global crisis.

Several key donors including the United States, Norway and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have already suspended non-emergency assistance since Rajoelina, 35, ousted Marc Ravalomanana and set up an interim government in March.

The political turmoil on the world's fourth largest island has stunted economic growth and left Rajoelina's government in diplomatic isolation.

The European Union, a major donor, has to decide whether to freeze the 577 million Euros in aid it has allocated to Madagascar for the period 2007-2012.

"We are not going to defend the Higher Transitional Authority (government) or myself. We are going to discuss European Union aid to the people of Madagascar," Rajoelina, Africa's youngest president, told reporters shortly before departing for Brussels.

The international community, which generally labelled the former disc jockey's army-backed seizure of power in March a coup, has pushed for an inclusive government, but African Union-led crisis negotiations failed last month.

The EU head of delegation, Jean Claude Boidin, said last month that a decision on aid would be taken in September or October.

Rajoelina is expected to meet EU officials on Tuesday.