ANTANANARIVO, July 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The prosecutor general’s office in Madagascar has said it foiled an assassination attempt on President Andry Rajoelina, and arrested several “foreign and Malagasy” suspects.
Two French people are among several arrested in the Indian Ocean island nation on Tuesday “as part of an investigation for undermining state security”, diplomatic sources said.
“Several foreign and Madagascar nationals were arrested on Tuesday, July 20, as part of an investigation into an attack on state security,” said prosecutor Berthine Razafiarivony, in a statement released overnight.
“At this stage of the investigation, which is ongoing, the prosecutor-general’s office assures we will shed light in on this case,” she added.
Authorities in Madagascar foiled an assassination attempt against President Marc Ravalomanana 10 days ago, Prime Minister Charles Rabemananjara has claimed.
Police have begun an investigation into the incident in which attackers broke into Ravalomanana’s residence.
“Thanks to the cooperation between the authorities and residents, they were apprehended,” Rabemananjara told reporters, without giving more details.
He said the motives were not clear, but suggested the incident may have been linked to this month’s constitutional referendum, which analysts expect will give the Indian Ocean island president greater powers.
Early results show that three-quarters of the voters backed a package of changes including letting the president legislate directly in cases he deemed “urgent”.
“The people should be allowed to express themselves freely,” Rabemananjara added.
It is not the first time the authorities have reported attacks targeting Ravalomanana, who was re-elected in December’s presidential poll.
In February, a court sentenced a renegade Malagasy general to seven years in jail for a botched attempt to overthrow the President.
In January 2006, police arrested three men on suspicion of planning a grenade attack on his dairy company.
During the country’s Independence Day celebrations on June 26, the gendarmerie announced that they had foiled an assassination attempt on their boss who is also the president’s right-hand man, General Richard Ravalomanana. — NNN-AGENCIES
