Madagascar has postponed indefinitely a referendum on a new constitution because the charter has not yet been completed, the head of the election commission said. The referendum is seen as a first concrete step towards holding elections aimed at ending a leadership battle that has paralysed the Indian Ocean island since Andry Rajoelina toppled former leader Marc Ravalomanana with the help of dissident troops in March last year. Rajoelina has tasked a coalition of civil society groups with organising the conference but the president of these groups warned last week against announcing a date for the meeting that would not be met.