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Madagascar court backs handover Madagascar court backs handover
(about 1 hour later)
Madagascar's highest court has backed the handover of power to opposition leader Andry Rajoelina.Madagascar's highest court has backed the handover of power to opposition leader Andry Rajoelina.
It comes a day after military leaders conferred powers to the 34-year-old following President Marc Ravalomanana's dramatic resignation. It comes a day after military leaders conferred powers to the 34-year-old when President Marc Ravalomanana quit.
Under the current constitution, former disc jockey Mr Rajoelina is six years too young to be elected president. But under the current constitution, the former disc jockey is six years too young to be elected president.
He told the BBC the constitution would have to be changed and promised elections within two years. Zambia called for the immediate suspension of Madagascar from the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (Sadc).
Although foreign governments held back from legitimising the power shift, the constitutional court announced its approval in a radio address on Wednesday after being approached by Mr Rajoelina's supporters. Zambian Foreign Minister Kabinga Pande also told a news conference in Lusaka: "Zambia rejects the unconstitutional change of government in Madagacscar."
Sadc had condemned in advance any direct seizure of power by Mr Rajoelina, while the AU had urged the army not to hand over to him, saying this would amount to a coup.
'Back to normal''Back to normal'
Mr Rajoelina later addressed thousands of supporters in the centre of the capital and promised a return to "normal life, to security and above all national reconciliation", reported Reuters news agency. Mr Rajoelina - who has pledged elections within two years - addressed supporters in the capital on Wednesday to promise a return to "normal life, to security and above all national reconciliation", reported Reuters news agency.
MADAGASCAR KEY FACTS World's fourth largest islandBiodiversity hotspotExposed to tropical cyclonesPopulation 20 million70% live on less than $1 a dayFrench colony until 1960World's No 1 vanilla producer Country profilePresident bows to inevitableMadagascar's young pretenderMADAGASCAR KEY FACTS World's fourth largest islandBiodiversity hotspotExposed to tropical cyclonesPopulation 20 million70% live on less than $1 a dayFrench colony until 1960World's No 1 vanilla producer Country profilePresident bows to inevitableMadagascar's young pretender
The constitutional court announced its approval of the power transition in a radio address, after being approached by Mr Rajoelina's supporters.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, in the capital Antananarivo, says the legal decision is part of a process of legitimising Mr Rajoelina as president after he effectively seized power with the backing of his supporters and the military.The BBC's Jonah Fisher, in the capital Antananarivo, says the legal decision is part of a process of legitimising Mr Rajoelina as president after he effectively seized power with the backing of his supporters and the military.
Our correspondent says there is relief on the streets that the Indian Ocean island's power struggle, which has left more than 100 people dead since January, was resolved without further bloodshed. Our correspondent says there is relief on the streets that the Indian Ocean island's power struggle, which has left more than 100 people dead since January, has ended without further bloodshed so far.
According to a legal document obtained by AFP news agency, the constitutional court "proclaims that Mr Andry Rajoelina exercises the attributions of the president of the Republic as stated by the provisions of the constitution".
But according to Malagasy law, the head of parliament's upper house should have taken over after the president's resignation and organised an election within two months.
'No power vacuum''No power vacuum'
Mr Rajoelina has moved quickly to consolidate his grip his authority. According to a legal document obtained by AFP news agency, the constitutional court "proclaims that Mr Andry Rajoelina exercises the attributions of the president of the Republic as stated by the provisions of the constitution".
President Marc Ravalomanana 's whereabouts are currently unknownPresident Marc Ravalomanana 's whereabouts are currently unknown
"There must not be a power vacuum," he told the BBC's World Today programme. But according to Malagasy law, the head of parliament's upper house should have taken over after the president's resignation and organised an election within two months.
He promised elections within the next 18 to 24 months and, asked why earlier elections would not be held, said he did not want "history to repeat itself". Mr Rajoelina earlier told the BBC's World Today programme: "There must not be a power vacuum."
He promised elections within the next 18 to 24 months and, asked why polls could not be held earlier, said he did not want "history to repeat itself".
"We'll have to change the constitution," he told the BBC. "We'll have to analyse the law on political parties, the electoral code; we need time to do all this.""We'll have to change the constitution," he told the BBC. "We'll have to analyse the law on political parties, the electoral code; we need time to do all this."
FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service
Asked about the future of Mr Ravalomanana - whose whereabouts a day after his ousting were unclear - Mr Rajoelina said that was up to the judiciary.Asked about the future of Mr Ravalomanana - whose whereabouts a day after his ousting were unclear - Mr Rajoelina said that was up to the judiciary.
Coup?
He effectively took charge on Tuesday evening after the army rejected a plan laid out by the departing President Ravalomanana to hand over power to a military directorate.He effectively took charge on Tuesday evening after the army rejected a plan laid out by the departing President Ravalomanana to hand over power to a military directorate.
FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service
Mr Rajoelina paraded triumphantly through the streets of the capital, after installing himself at the presidential residence seized by soldiers on Monday night.Mr Rajoelina paraded triumphantly through the streets of the capital, after installing himself at the presidential residence seized by soldiers on Monday night.
It marked a dramatic victory for the young politician, who was sacked as mayor of the capital in February. He had rejected a proposal at the weekend by Mr Ravalomanana, who was re-elected to a second term in 2006, for a referendum on whether he should serve the remainder of his mandate.
The African Union - which had urged the army not to hand power to Mr Rajoelina, saying this would amount to a coup - has called for the security of the outgoing president to be guaranteed. The week's events have marked a dramatic victory for the young politician, who was sacked as mayor of the capital in February.
The Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) condemned in advance any direct seizure of power by Mr Rajoelina.