S.Africa urges legal path to Madagascar ex-leader’s return

Regional powerhouse South Africa on Tuesday took Madagascar’s rival leaders to task over their weekend brinkmanship, insisting they find a legal route to exiled leader Marc Ravalomanana’s return.

Deputy foreign minister Marius Fransman lambasted both Ravalomanana and strongman Andry Rajoelina for their Saturday standoff, when the toppled president boarded a commercial flight to return home but was turned away in mid-air.

“We cannot have free and fair elections if we do not see the finalisation of the amnesty process, as well as the return of Mr Ravalomanana into this country,” Fransman told reporters.

He accused both men of “irresponsible” behaviour, before heading into a meeting meant to salvage a fledgling pact aimed at steering the vast island nation toward elections.

Fransman described the incident Saturday as “unfortunate, because it could have easily impacted the life of innocent passengers”.

“In the same way, it is irresponsible for the authorities there to speak every time of arresting the former president when reconciliation is supposed to take place,” he added.

Madagascar’s main political parties signed a “roadmap” in November that calls for elections later this year and the return of exiled leaders, including Ravalomanana.

But he faces legal trouble after being sentenced to life in prison and hard labour for the death of 30 opposition protesters killed by his presidential guard in February 2009.

Ravalomanana was driven from power the following month as Rajoelina seized control with army backing.

The takeover was the latest in a series of coups that have plagued the Indian Ocean nation since independence from France in 1960.

The meeting Tuesday in Pretoria gathered members of the security organ of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community and the main opposition groups in Madagascar.

Negotiators are still working on a possible amnesty that would allow Ravalomanana’s return while upholding the court ruling against him.