Madagascar Prez Hands Country to Military

Military hands power to opposition leader after president steps down

(NEWSER) - Madagascar's military has handed control of the country over to youthful opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, the BBC reports. The 34-year-old former DJ—who installed himself in the president's office yesterday—promised elections within two years. President Marc Ravalomanana stepped down yesterday after a military raid on his palace, and officers say they rejected his offer to turn the country into a military directorate. More»

(NEWSER) - Explosions rang out in Madagascar’s capital today, as the army stormed and easily captured the presidential palace at the center of the city. The building appeared deserted, according to an AP reporter, who saw armored vehicles roll through the normally ceremonial palace gates. One colonel said it wasn’t an attack on the president, who was in another palace nine miles away at the time, but merely an attempt to control the building. More»

Pressure mounts against coup government

(NEWSER) - International pressure is mounting against the new government of Madagascar, installed this week via coup, the BBC reports. The African Union has suspended the island nation’s membership, calling the takeover “unconstitutional,” and South Africa said it might impose sanctions. France likewise condemned the takeover, and the US cut some of its aid. But the new prime minister brushed off the criticism. More»

Inch-long Brookesia micra the result of island dwarfism

(NEWSER) - A tiny island off the coast of Madagascar is home to the smallest chameleon ever discovered. Scientists believe Brookesia micra, which is just over an inch long, is the result of a double case of "island dwarfism," in which island species shrink as they evolve to adjust to their restricted habitat, the BBC reports. More»

Protests erupt after Mohamed Nasheed's speech

(NEWSER) - Protests erupted in Maldives today after Mohamed Nasheed said he'd been forced to resign the presidency at gunpoint. Nasheed stepped down yesterday , handing power to VP Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, saying he was "not a person who wishes to rule with the use of power." But today he told reporters a different story. "There were guns all around me and they told me they wouldn't hesitate to use them if I didn't resign," he said, according to Reuters . More»