ANTANANARIVO, May 2: Madagascar’s leadership crisis threatened to split the giant Indian Ocean island on Thursday as provincial governors prepared to declare independence to support embattled ruler Didier Ratsiraka.

France condemned moves by governors of at least three of the island’s six provinces to break away from the central government of its former colony.

“The decision of the governors of Toliara, Antsiranana and Toamasina to proclaim the independence of their provinces is particularly regrettable and certainly does not facilitate the search for a peaceful and democratic solution,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau said in Paris.

Governors loyal to Ratsiraka were due to announce the secession of their provinces from the central government on Thursday in protest at a court decision declaring Ratsiraka’s rival Marc Ravalomanana the winner of a December election.

It was not immediately clear what secession would entail on the island — which is almost the size of the U.S. state of Texas — or how many of its 16 million residents would back the move.

In the capital, dairy tycoon Ravalomanana, who was declared president by a court on Monday after an election recount, said he would hold an investiture ceremony on May 6.

“The investiture will be on Monday because we want a religious service first (on Sunday) so everyone can pray for the ceremony,” he said. “After the investiture I will take power.”—Reuters