Madagascar sentences ex-leader

Madagascar sentences ex-leader

Andry Rajoelina, who seized power in March, has promised elections by 2010 [Reuters] 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. But many African nations have condemned his takeover as a coup and urged talks between the two rivals. Ravalomanana is currently in South Africa, where he is seeking international support for a return to Madagascar.

Source: Agencies