20100829
africanews

The former and exiled president of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana has been sentenced for life in absentia for the February 2009 murders of at least 30 people by his presidential guards. Ravalomanana has been living in South Africa since March 2009.

Those killed were supporters of Andry Rajoelina, who has now taken over the government.

Ravalomanana was charged with murder and being an accessory to murder, along with 18 other people, some of whom are also in exile.

The former president's defence lawyers walked out on the trial shortly after the hearings began, saying the court was being used by Rajoelina's administration, according to a report on BBC.

"The aim is to sentence him so he can't return to Madagascar and run in future elections," lawyer Hanitra Razafimanantsoa told news agency AFP.

Madagascar has been in the midst of a political crisis for the past 19 months. It is the third sentence given to Ravalomanana by a court since he left the country.