(NSI News Source Info) March 22, 2009: The African Union suspended Madagascar today for what it called a coup after the military forced the elected president from office and handed power to a populist opposition leader.
The Indian Ocean island's new leader, Andry Rajoelina, has suspended parliament and threatened to arrest members of the deposed government for abuse of power over the killing of more than 100 people in demonstrations this year. 
Andry Rajoelina parades through the streets of Antananarivo, Madagascar, after taking control of the presidency.
The AU's peace and security council said that the removal of the former president, Marc Ravalomanana, who signed a resignation document after the army took over his office earlier this week, was illegal. The council chairman, Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba, said it "can be interpreted as a coup".
"The council is of the opinion that what occurred in Madagascar enters the definition of unconstitutional change of government," he said.
"The council then decided to suspend the participation of Madagascar to the bodies and organs of the AU."
Madagascar's highest court has ruled that the handover of power, in which Ravalomanana ceded control to a military leadership which then installed Rajoelina, is constitutional despite the fact that he is six years younger than the legal requirement for a president to be at least 40 years old.
The AU said that the constitutional path required the president to hand power to the speaker of parliament and for elections to be held within two months. Rajoelina is promising a ballot within two years.
If Madagascar does not restore constitutional order within six months, the AU can impose sanctions. The organisation has also suspended Mauritania and Guinea after military takeovers in recent months.
Yesterday the Southern African Development Community, of which Madagascar is a member, refused to recognise Rajoelina as president.
SADC said it "condemns in the strongest terms the circumstances that led to the ousting of a democratically elected president of Madagascar".
Rajoelina, who is scheduled to be sworn in as leader of a transitional government on Saturday, is also facing rejection from beyond the continent.
The US has described the handover as "an undemocratic transfer of power" and the EU has said Ravalomanana's removal was a coup d'etat.
Madagascar's new prime minister, Monja Roindefo, said the situation is misunderstood.
"Maybe the European Union's vision is a bit blurred," he said. "We'll explain the real situation. Maybe the way Madagascar acts is not very clear. Things can be a bit specific which may be difficult to follow in every detail."
Andry Rajoelina parades through the streets of Antananarivo, Madagascar, after taking control of the presidency.
The AU's peace and security council said that the removal of the former president, Marc Ravalomanana, who signed a resignation document after the army took over his office earlier this week, was illegal. The council chairman, Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba, said it "can be interpreted as a coup".
"The council is of the opinion that what occurred in Madagascar enters the definition of unconstitutional change of government," he said.
"The council then decided to suspend the participation of Madagascar to the bodies and organs of the AU."
Madagascar's highest court has ruled that the handover of power, in which Ravalomanana ceded control to a military leadership which then installed Rajoelina, is constitutional despite the fact that he is six years younger than the legal requirement for a president to be at least 40 years old.
The AU said that the constitutional path required the president to hand power to the speaker of parliament and for elections to be held within two months. Rajoelina is promising a ballot within two years.
If Madagascar does not restore constitutional order within six months, the AU can impose sanctions. The organisation has also suspended Mauritania and Guinea after military takeovers in recent months.
Yesterday the Southern African Development Community, of which Madagascar is a member, refused to recognise Rajoelina as president.
SADC said it "condemns in the strongest terms the circumstances that led to the ousting of a democratically elected president of Madagascar".
Rajoelina, who is scheduled to be sworn in as leader of a transitional government on Saturday, is also facing rejection from beyond the continent.
The US has described the handover as "an undemocratic transfer of power" and the EU has said Ravalomanana's removal was a coup d'etat.
Madagascar's new prime minister, Monja Roindefo, said the situation is misunderstood.
"Maybe the European Union's vision is a bit blurred," he said. "We'll explain the real situation. Maybe the way Madagascar acts is not very clear. Things can be a bit specific which may be difficult to follow in every detail."
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