RAVALIMANANA SENTENCED BY MADAGASCAR'S COURT
Marc Ravalomanana, Madagascar's former leader, has been sentenced by a local court to four years in jail and fined $70m for "abuse of office", a minister in the country's transitional government has said.
The former president, who was ousted in March after the opposition backed by the military seized power, was absent from Wednesday's court proceedings.
"The verdict was made today condemning Ravalomanana," Christine Razanamahasoa, the justice minister, told the Reuters news agency.
The court fined him for abuse of office over buying a presidential jet, and also gave Haja Razafinjatovo, Ravalomanana's former finance minister, the same sentence over the alleged deal.
Andry Rajoelina, the opposition leader who took over from Ravalomanana after leading protests against him, has called the former president corrupt and dictatorial.
He has established a transitional authority on the Indian Ocean island, and promised an election by 2010.
Courtesy: Al Jazeera
The former president, who was ousted in March after the opposition backed by the military seized power, was absent from Wednesday's court proceedings.
"The verdict was made today condemning Ravalomanana," Christine Razanamahasoa, the justice minister, told the Reuters news agency.
The court fined him for abuse of office over buying a presidential jet, and also gave Haja Razafinjatovo, Ravalomanana's former finance minister, the same sentence over the alleged deal.
Andry Rajoelina, the opposition leader who took over from Ravalomanana after leading protests against him, has called the former president corrupt and dictatorial.
He has established a transitional authority on the Indian Ocean island, and promised an election by 2010.
Courtesy: Al Jazeera
MADAGASCAR TELLS U.S. ENVOY TO LEAVE
US ambassador to Madagascar, Niels Marquadt
The Madagascan premier accuses the US envoy of meddling, saying "it would be better for him to leave the island if he carries on with this conduct".
Monja Roindefa on Monday expressed outrage over what he termed as interference by ambassador Niels Marquadt in the country's internal affairs.
"It surprises me that before the crisis he (Marquardt) said Americans were going to quit Madagascar. Three months later he is still there. Nobody is forcing him to stay," Reuters quoted Monja as saying.
He was referring to months of unrest on the Island which ended in president Marc Ravalomanana stepping down from power in March and handing the reins of the country to opposition leader Andry Rajoelina.
Marquardt had described the change in Madagascan leadership as a 'military coup' which had left Madagascar "on the verge of civil war" and called for fresh elections.
"Those who are not happy can leave. The Malagasy people are sovereign," Monja said
Courtessy: Press TV
The Madagascan premier accuses the US envoy of meddling, saying "it would be better for him to leave the island if he carries on with this conduct".Monja Roindefa on Monday expressed outrage over what he termed as interference by ambassador Niels Marquadt in the country's internal affairs.
"It surprises me that before the crisis he (Marquardt) said Americans were going to quit Madagascar. Three months later he is still there. Nobody is forcing him to stay," Reuters quoted Monja as saying.
He was referring to months of unrest on the Island which ended in president Marc Ravalomanana stepping down from power in March and handing the reins of the country to opposition leader Andry Rajoelina.Marquardt had described the change in Madagascan leadership as a 'military coup' which had left Madagascar "on the verge of civil war" and called for fresh elections.
"Those who are not happy can leave. The Malagasy people are sovereign," Monja said
Courtessy: Press TV
AU SUSPENDS MADAGSCAR OVER COUP
The African Union (AU) has suspended Madagascar over an army-backed coup by Andry Rajoelina, the former opposition leader.Joining a growing chorus of international condemnation, the AU on Friday called Rajoelina's takeover "unconstitutional".
Rajoelina, who declared himself as the new head of the country's transitional authority after Marc Ravalomanana was forced to step down as the president, has already drawn criticism from the US, France, Germany and the EU.
The Southern African Development Community (Sadc), a regional bloc, also refused to recognise Rajoelina as Madagascar's leader on Thursday, and member states are reportedly discussing imposing sanctions against the island.Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba, the chairman of the AU's peace and security council, said that "what occurred in Madagascar enters the definition of unconstitutional change of government".
"The council then decided to suspend the participation of Madagascar to the bodies and organs of the AU," he said.
Despite the criticism, Madagascar's courts and army have backed Rajoelina, who forced Ravalomanana from the presidency on Tuesday after a seven-week campaign of street protests.
On his first day in office, the 34-year-old Rajoelina dissolved the senate and national assembly without opposition.
Courtesy: Al Jazeera...
MADAGASCAR'S PRESIDENT QUITS
Madagascar's president has handed over power to the military after months of pressure from the opposition."After deep reflection, I have decided to dissolve the government and give up power so that a military directorate can be established,'' Marc Ravalomanana said in a radio address on Sunday.
"This decision was very difficult and very hard, but it had to be made. We need calm and peace to develop our country."
Ravalomanana had earlier vowed to fight to the death after the military seized his offices in the capital Antananarivo on Monday.
Hyppolite Ramaroson, a navy admiral and the most senior military official, was to lead the country as part of a directorate made up of high-ranking military officers, presidential aides said.
The Madagascan military is split between these who are loyal to the president and those who support Andry Rajoelina, the opposition leader.After the transfer of power, the opposition said that Rajoelina would lead a "transitional authority" and would organise presidential and general elections in the next 24 months.
It was not immediately clear how the military leadership would react to the opposition's announcement.
Courtesy: Al Jazeera nd Reuters
MADAGASCAR ARMY STORM PRESIDENCY
Madagascan troops have entered the presidential palace compound in the capital Antananarivo, witnesses say. Marc Ravalomanana, the president, was not in the building, which is largely used for ceremonial purposes, when soldiers smashed down the gates with armoured vehicles on Monday."Surrender, surrender, if you are there surrender, because we are brothers," a soldier shouted into a loudhailer as they forced their way in.
The army was also reportedly on its way to another palace about 6km from the city centre where Ravalomanana was believed to be sheltering.
Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa, reporting from Antananarivo, said that the situation in the capital was confused.
"They have civilians outside the gates to leave quietly so they don't get hurt," she said.
"People are trying to get home but there are problems as the roads are blocked ... Troops are on the streets, running towards the presidential palace."
The takeover of the presidential compound came just hours after Andry Rajoelina, the opposition leader, called on the security forces to arrest Ravalomanana, who he accuses of being a dictator and misusing public funds.
Rajoelina has already declared himself the Indian Ocean island's de facto leader, tapping into widespread public discontent, especially among Madagascar's poor.Ravalomanana has offered to hold a referendum to end the crisis, but the Rajoelina said in a radio address broadcast that there was no need for a poll as the people had already made their opinions clear.The head of Madagascar's armed forces said on Monday they were 99 per cent behind Rajoelina."We are there for the Malagasy people. If Andry Rajoelina can resolve the problem, we are behind him," Colonel Andre Ndriarijaona, who led a mutiny last week and replaced the previous army chief of staff, said. "I would say 99 per cent of the forces are behind him."
Courtesy: Al Jazeera
RAJOELINA DECLARES HIMSELF IN CHARGE OF MADAGASCAR
BREAKING NEWS ( MADAGASCAR)
Antananari
vo Mayor Andry Rajoelina takes part in a rally in the Malagasy capital city
Antananari
vo Mayor Andry Rajoelina takes part in a rally in the Malagasy capital city ANTANANARIVO: The head of the opposition to Madagascar's government took to the streets Saturday, declaring himself the nation's leader after a week of violence and looting that killed at least 83 people and wounded more than 300.
Andry Rajoelina, mayor of the capital city of Antananarivo, called on supporters to demand the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana and said he plans to give orders until a transition government can be established.
He called on workers in the island nation off of Africa's southeastern coast to stay away from work and make the capital a "ghost town" until Ravalomanana steps down, according to a statemen
t from the government.
Meanwhile, Ravalomanana was traveling the country Saturday, surveying damage from the looting and telling citizens that he remains in charge.
"We must monitor the troublemakers so that the rule of law is observed in Madagascar," he said during a visit to the island of Nosy Be. "The general consensus is that the unrest is caused by people who came suddenly from nowhere and incited the panic. We respect the constitution and the law, and will not be people who destabilize our nation by vandalism and looting."
Violence in Madagascar began Monday, when protesters stormed state-run television and radio stations in Antananarivo. Hours earlier, the government had shut down a radio station owned by Rajoelina and, weeks ago, had similarly shut down Rajoelina's television station after it aired an interview with ex-President Didier Ratsiraka.
Source: CNN
Andry Rajoelina, mayor of the capital city of Antananarivo, called on supporters to demand the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana and said he plans to give orders until a transition government can be established.
He called on workers in the island nation off of Africa's southeastern coast to stay away from work and make the capital a "ghost town" until Ravalomanana steps down, according to a statemen
t from the government.Meanwhile, Ravalomanana was traveling the country Saturday, surveying damage from the looting and telling citizens that he remains in charge.
"We must monitor the troublemakers so that the rule of law is observed in Madagascar," he said during a visit to the island of Nosy Be. "The general consensus is that the unrest is caused by people who came suddenly from nowhere and incited the panic. We respect the constitution and the law, and will not be people who destabilize our nation by vandalism and looting."
Violence in Madagascar began Monday, when protesters stormed state-run television and radio stations in Antananarivo. Hours earlier, the government had shut down a radio station owned by Rajoelina and, weeks ago, had similarly shut down Rajoelina's television station after it aired an interview with ex-President Didier Ratsiraka.
Source: CNN
VISITORS GEOFLAGS SINCE AUGUST 26, 2009
