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African Union suspends Madagascar


    ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The African Union (AU) suspended Madagascar on Friday, adding to a chorus of international disapproval after the island's military appointed a young opposition leader as president earlier this week.

    The AU decision echoed condemnation by southern African trade bloc SADC, the European Union and United States. Weeks of political unrest in Madagascar have killed at least 135 people, devastated the economy and worried foreign investors.

    "The council is of the opinion that what occurred in Madagascar enters the definition of unconstitutional change of government," said Burkina Faso's Ambassador Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba, the Chairman of the AU's peace and security council.

    "The council then decided to suspend the participation of Madagascar to the bodies and organs of the AU."

    Zidouemba said a military handover of power to opposition leader Andry Rajoelina amounted to a civilian and military coup d'etat on the Indian Ocean island.

    "It can be interpreted as a coup," he said. "In this case, we have a case where a civilian and military coup has taken place in Madagascar."

    (Reporting by Tafessa Jarra, editing by Mark Trevelyan)