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Madagascar soldiers raid high court to arrest supporters of ousted president

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Armed soldiers raided Madagascar's High Constitutional Court Monday evening, arresting head of security Andrianandraina Ralitera and three other court employees. The four arrested men, supporters of ousted president Marc Ravalomanana are accused of inciting public disorder and ordering soldiers to open fire on protesters in February, resulting in the deaths of 28. Journalists were later permitted into the court and shown weapons that had allegedly been stockpiled there. Last month, the Constitutional Court accepted the military's decision to install Andry Rajoelina as the country's new president, one day after Ravalomanana's resignation. The court approved the presidency of 34-year-old Rajoelina despite a requirement in Madagascar's constitution that the president be at least 40 years of age, declaring that his presidency would be legal for a maximum two-year term. Ravalomanana passed control of the government to the military after months of violence in hopes it would run the nation under a military directorate. The military subsequently passed power to Rajoelina, a former mayor of Madagascar's capital city of Antananarivo who had led protests against Ravalomanana's government. Rajoelina was fired as mayor of Antananarivo in late January following his declaration that he was in charge of Madagascar and his failed efforts to impeach Ravalomanana. Much of the public unrest stemmed from criticisms that Ravalomanana failed to alleviate poverty, as well as his unpopular decision to shut down a television station owned by Rajoelina after the station aired an interview with one of Ravalomanana's former adversaries.VOTE FOR JURIST JURIST is nominated for a 2009 Webby Award as best Law website. Please vote for us here!

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 28, 2009 (boomark / email).