Ravalomanana's troops captured a strategic hill which was the last bastion blocking their route to the northern port of Antsiranana, after two hours of fighting on the morning of 1 July. General Peter Behajaina, at his Ambilobe command post 25 miles from the front line, told the press that his forces sustained no losses or wounded. They were sweeping the area to see if Ratsiraka's forces lost any men. At 10.34 EST, the press reported that Ratsiraka was ready to respect a ceasefire accord if guaranteed by the international community, in a statement released by the country's embassy in Paris and addressed "to all heads of state". - Adam Geibel