Madagascar president dissolves national assembly

ANTANANARIVO, July 24 (Reuters) Madagascar's president dissolved the Indian Ocean island's national assembly today and said elections would be held before the end of September.

In a letter to the High Constitutional Court, President Marc Ravalomanana said the composition of parliament did not reflect a constitutional referendum in April that boosted his powers and re-ordered the administration of the country's regions.

''Parliament no longer really reflects the national representation following the replacement of autonomous provinces with regions,'' his open letter said.

In a decree published separately today, he ordered the assembly to be dissolved on July 26. The HCC said in a statement that it expected new elections for the 160-seat chamber to be held between 30-60 days after that.

Ravalomana won a second term as president at polls in December and, in practice, Madagascar's lower house of parliament has generally rubber-stamped government legislation.

His ruling TIM (Tiako-i-Madagasikara) party can count on about 100 seats in the chamber, but has been weakened by in-fighting in recent months.

Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island and home to some 18 million people, many of whom live in poverty.

Reuters RJ GC2055