Forces loyal to Madagascar's president, Marc Ravalomanana, have captured two key port cities a day after his rival left the Indian ocean island for France.

I'm going to work in search of the best thing for the Malagasy people and I will come back

Didier Ratsiraka

Mr Ravalomanana's soldiers captured the north-western port town of Mahajanga and the southern port town of Tulear without shots being fired.

Mr Ravalomanana has announced on national radio that the three-month economic blockade imposed on the capital, Antananarivo, by supporters of former president Didier Ratsiraka is now over.

Mr Ratsiraka arrived in France aboard a plane provided by the French Government with his wife and daughter, but denies that he has left Madagascar for good.

French foreign ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau said the former president "was on a private visit to France" and no formal meetings were planned with French officials. He would not elaborate.

For the past five months, Madagascar has been split between Mr Ravalomanana's supporters based in the capital and those backing Mr Ratsiraka who controlled coastal areas from the second city of Tamatave.

The problem started in December after the presidential elections, when both Mr Ratsiraka and Mr Ravalomanana claimed victory.

Last month, the High Constitutional Court declared that Mr Ravalomanana had won the poll.

A meeting between the two men in Senegal last week failed to end the confrontation.

The BBC 's Jonny Donovan in Madagascar says that Mr Ratsiraka's departure has sent a wave of panic through his forces.

"There is no question that this is close to the end-game," he told the Focus on Africa programme.

Speculation

Mr Ratsiraka's sudden departure has unleashed a barrage of speculation in Madagascar's press and in Mr Ravalomanana's camp.

	Bitter rivals 16 December 2001: Presidential election, incumbent Didier Ratsiraka challenged by capital's mayor Marc Ravalomanana 7 January 2002: Opposition claim rigging, begin daily protests 25 January: Run-off ordered after inconclusive result 27 February: Violent clashes in capital, days after Ravalomanana declares himself president 18 April: Rivals sign peace deal in Senegal 16 May: Ravalomanana sworn in after recount awards him victory Q&A Madagascar's turmoil

"Ratsiraka has definitively quit the country," said one aide.

On television in the capital, newscasters were proclaiming the end not only of the political crisis but of Mr Ratsiraka's rule in Madagascar. However, according to sources from within the Ratsiraka camp, such celebrations are premature.

They say Mr Ratsiraka merely intends to spend a few days in Paris with his family before attending the next round of talks, expected to take place in Libreville early next week.

One source from within the Ratsiraka camp even suggested that he had gone abroad to purchase weapons.

But newspapers in Madagascar are suggesting he may have fled into exile.