Madagascar's military takes power as president impeached following protests

ANTANANARIVO — An elite Madagascar military unit said on Tuesday that it had taken power in the Indian Ocean country after parliamentarians voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina following weeks of anti-government protests.

There were celebrations in the streets of the capital after the commander of the CAPSAT military unit, which joined the demonstrators on the weekend, announced that it was in charge.

"We have taken the power," Colonel Michael Randrianirina declared on national radio, saying the military was dissolving all institutions except the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly.

The presidency denounced "a clear act of attempted coup" and insisted that Rajoelina, in hiding, reportedly out of the country, "remains fully in office".

On Monday, Rajoelina, 51, refused growing demands to step down from the protest movement that started on Sept 25 over power outages and water shortages, which escalated into calls for his resignation.

Outside the presidential palace, Randrianirina read out a statement announcing the suspension of the constitution, saying that new national structures had been established "to meet the aspirations of the Malagasy people".

He also announced the dissolution of key public institutions, including the Senate, the High Constitutional Court and the National Independent Electoral Commission.

A governing committee composed of officers of the army, gendarmerie and national police would be established, he said.

"It is this committee that will carry out the work of the presidency," he said, adding that a "civilian government" will be formed in the coming days, whose mission will be to lead a national renewal, restore public trust in institutions, and rebuild a state based on justice, good governance and accountability.

Transitional government

Randrianirina later told reporters that a committee led by the military would rule the country for up to two years alongside a transitional government before organizing elections.

On Wednesday, Randrianirina said he was "taking the position of president", in an interview with The Associated Press at his barracks.

He said he expected to be sworn in as the country's new leader in the next few days.

He was taking the role as head of state after the High Constitutional Court invited him to do so in the absence of Rajoelina, he said.

"There must be an oath-taking" to make his position official, he said.

Parliamentarians pushed ahead with the vote to impeach Rajoelina for desertion of duty despite an effort by the presidency to block the motion by ordering the dissolution of the National Assembly.

The vote passed with 130 votes in favor, well above the two-thirds constitutional threshold required.

The presidency said the session was "devoid of any legal basis".

However, the Constitutional Court later validated the impeachment and confirmed Randrianirina's authority.

After reports that he had left the country with the help of France, Rajoelina said in a national address late on Monday that he was in a "safe place to protect my life".

He did not reveal his location, but some reports said he may have gone to Dubai.

Adding to statements of concern from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community, a United Nations spokesman said on Tuesday that "if there is a coup underway, we would stand against that".

"We're trying to see exactly what happens, once the dust is settled," said Farhan Haq, spokesman for the UN chief, Antonio Guterres.

Agencies - Xinhua