(30 Mar 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Wide exterior of Lozitha Royal Palace
2. Various of Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders posing for a photo opportunity
3. Wide interior of SADC meeting
4. Various of SADC leaders seated before start of meeting
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Swaziland's King Mswati III, current SADC security committee chairman:
"This unconstitutional takeover of power by the de facto regime in Madagascar violates the basic principles,protocols and treaties of SADC and is therefore,not acceptable"
6. Cutaway
7. Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe looking at papers
8 SOUNDBITE: (English) Swaziland's King Mswati III, current SADC security committee chairman:
"The greatest challenge Zimbabwe is now facing is the recovery of their economy. We continue to be happily impressed by the progress made in the formation and operationalisation of the inclusive government. We are already witnessing the first fruits of Zimbabwe unity."
9. King Mswati III addressing the SADC leaders and the media
10. Madagascar's ousted leader, Marc Ravalomanana arrives at SADC meeting
STORYLINE:
Southern African leaders met on Monday to decide what sanctions to impose against Madagascar's new self-declared government and to discuss a financial aid package to stricken Zimbabwe.
Madagascar's ousted leader, Marc Ravalomanana, briefed the heads of the Southern African Development Community in closed session.
The 15-member bloc says Andry Rajoelina, a former disc jockey who rose to become mayor of Madagascar's capital, seized power unconstitutionally earlier this month.
Swaziland's King Mswati III, current SADC security committee chairman, said the removal of Ravalomanana violated the regional bloc's precepts.
"The unconstitutional takeover of power by the de-facto regime in Madagascar violates the basic principles, protocols and treaties of SADC and is therefore not acceptable," said Mswati.
Mswati is Africa's last absolute monarch, and his government stands accused of clamping down on dissent and the trade union movement this year.
The Swazi king said the summit would decide on sanctions against Madagascar, an impoverished Indian Ocean island whose critical revenues from eco-tourism have dried up since unrest started earlier this year.
Rajoelina, backed by army commanders, declared himself president earlier this month. He accuses Ravalomanana of corruption and misrule.
In addition to sanctions, the summit was scheduled to discuss a bailout package for Zimbabwe, where a unity government is trying to resuscitate the economy.
Zimbabwe has asked its neighbours for 2 (b) billion US dollars - half to support retail and other sectors, and the rest to help schools and restore health and municipal services.
"We continue to be happily impressed by the progress made in the formation and operationalisation of the inclusive government. We are already witnessing the first fruits of Zimbabwe unity," said King Mswati III.
An estimated two-thirds of Zimbabweans are in need of food aid and a cholera epidemic has sickened more than 80,000 people and killed more than 4,000 since August.
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