Madagascar's regime cool to call for negotiations

The politician accused of conducting a coup in Madagascar said Monday he was open to talks overseen by Mozambique's respected former president to try to resolve a political crisis here.

But in the meantime, Andry Rajoelina also told reporters on the sidelines of a military ceremony, he was getting on with governing this impoverished Indian Ocean island.

At a weekend summit, the Southern African Development Community appointed former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano to try to push forward stalled negotiations between ousted President Marc Ravalomanana and Rajoelina, whose March takeover has been widely denounced.

"We're always ready to …