Madagascar's deposed leader fails to return home

19/02/2011 - 9:17

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Madagascar's ousted former President Marc Ravalomanana failed to return home on Saturday from exile, saying his country's government had blocked his departure from South Africa.

Ravalomanana, 61, had planned to fly home on Saturday after spending two years in exile, risking arrest and life imprisonment if he returned to the nickel and cobalt producing island.

"The (airline) say they have received this note from Madagascar civil aviation saying that I am a non grata person," Ravalomanana told journalists at Johannesburg's O.R Tambo airport.

Madagascar had urged South African Airways to block the self-made millionaire's departure for security reasons, a senior civil aviation source said on Friday.

President Andry Rajoelina, who toppled Ravalomanana in 2009 with military backing, warned he would have to be arrested and made to serve a life jail term that was handed down in absentia for the killing of 30 protestors by Ravalomanana's presidential guard.

(Writing by Olivia Kumwenda; Editing by Richard Lough/David Stamp)