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Madagascar

Madagascar general says he'll take the presidential palace in coup

A general who's claiming to have seized power in a coup in Madagascar says he's intending to take the presidential palace.

Thousands gathered on Sunday to show their support for the new constitution being voted on today
Thousands gathered on Sunday to show their support for the new constitution being voted on today AFP / Grégoire Pourtier
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"We are in mutiny since this morning.  We have decided to overthrow this regime", Noel Rakotonandrasana said in an interview with France 24.

"From now on all institutitions are suspended and a military committee is going to run the country".

The colonel was surrounded by some 20 officers when he made the declaration, but there was no sign of any military deployment in the streets and public television and radio went on with normal broadcasting.

It’s still unclear exactly what happened, and who is now in charge.

Voting has been taking place across the country today on a constitutional referendum organised by the island's government aiming to resolve a lengthy political crisis.

It’s the first poll since the former Antananarivo mayor Andry Rajoelina overthrew President Marc Ravalomanana, with the army's support, in March 2009.

Rajoelina himself voted near his home in the north of the capital where he said he was "exercising his right as a citizen."

The proposed charter makes no fundamental changes in the Indian Ocean island’s politics or governance, but does call for the "outlining, limiting and rationalising power to prevent dictatorial tendencies."

Of note however is the lowered age limit for presidential candidates from 40 to 35 years, which allows the 36-year-old Rajoelina to stand for election although he has pledged not to contest the presidency.

Unlike the current constitution, the new law also proposes a presidential and parliamentary system under which the president appoints a prime minister from a party with parliamentary majority.

However, opponents of the former disc jockey-turned president have called for a boycott, accusing Rajoelina of spurning previous power-sharing accords agreed under international mediation.
 

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