Madagascar votes on a new constitution

Nov 15

Madagascar votes on a new constitution on Wednesday in a referendum set to be boycotted by the main opposition parties.

Below is a timeline of events in the run up to the vote:

March 17, 2009 - Former President Marc Ravalomanana steps down after weeks of popular protest and violence.

March 21 - Coup instigator Andry Rajoelina sworn in as president.

March 31 - Southern African Development Community suspends Madagascar.

May 8 - IMF freezes Madagascar aid.

June 3 - Ravalomanana is sentenced in absentia to four years in jail for abuse of office.

Aug. 9 - Island's power-brokers sign initial power-sharing deal in Mozambique's capital Maputo. Three weeks later a second round of talks ends without agreement.

Sept. 4 - Rajoelina unilaterally names Monja Roindefo as prime minister. Days later Roindefo forms a government which African nations are quick to reject.

Oct. 6 - Rajoelina bows to international pressure and sacks Roindefo. Leaders agree on certain key posts.

Oct. 11 - Rajoelina appoints Eugene Mangalaza as a consensus prime minister.

Nov. 7 - An extension to the Maputo deal is signed in Addis Ababa. Rajoelina remains president but is flanked by two co-presidents. There are instant disputes over the division of executive power. The African Union suspension remains.

Dec. 8 - Ravalomanana, and former Presidents Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy agree to press ahead with the formation of a unity government. Rajoelina blocks their return to Madagascar.

Dec. 18 - Opposition leaders allowed to return. Rajoelina fires consensus prime minister. Opposition leaders say they will set up unity government within days.

Dec. 20 - Rajoelina appoints army Colonel Vital Albert Camille as new prime minister.

Feb. 12, 2010 - Vice prime minister Ny Hasina Andriamanjato resigns in a sign of growing divisions within the government.

March 17 - The AU imposes sanctions on Rajoelina and 108 others.

May 12 - Rajoelina says he will not contest presidential elections in a bid to end the political crisis.

June 3 - The European Union, the island's largest donor, announces it will extend its suspension of 600 million euros ($740 million) of development aid for another year.

Aug 14 - Rajoelina signs a deal with dozens of minor parties aimed at ending the political crisis, but the pact is rejected by the country's main opposition leaders.

Aug. 28 - A Madagascar court sentences deposed leader Ravalomanana in absentia to forced labour for the deaths of dozens of protesters during a Feb. 2009 march on the presidential palace during which 30 people were killed.

Nov 17 - A referendum on a new constitution, postponed in June as a new basic law had not been completed, is to be held. Presidential elections will take place on May 4, 2011 and legislative elections will be on March 16, 2011.