Pressure on Madagascar strongman to allow ex-leader's return

ANTANANARIVO (AFP) - Madagascar's transitional leader Andry Rajoelina came under renewed pressure Thursday to allow the return of the man he ousted from power three years ago, with an amnesty to keep him out of prison.

Mediators from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community demanded that Madagascar allow exiled president Marc Ravalomanana to return home safely by the end of February.

But Rajoelina's spokeswoman Annick Rajaona poured cold water on the idea, telling AFP that "it's not clear that he'll be in Madagascar by February 29".

The former leader who was ousted in a 2009 coup tried to return to the island nation last weekend, but his plane was turned back mid-air, forcing him to fly back to South Africa where he lives in exile.

The mediators called the incident a "setback" and took both men to task for their conduct, which they said threatened a deal that created the new unity government to steer Madagascar toward elections.

"This action by the former president was unfortunate as it had the potential to jeopardise further implementation of the roadmap to which most political parties had agreed," they said in a statement, after crisis talks in Pretoria on Tuesday.

They said they were equally "disappointed by the immediate response and statements made by the Transitional Authority to this incident".

The mediators -- comprising top officials from South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania -- called for "an immediate prioritisation of the enactment of the amnesty legislation by February 29".

The roadmap to elections, signed by the island's main political factions in November, allows the return of exiled leaders including Ravalomanana, who was ousted by Rajoelina in an army-backed coup.

But Ravalomanana faces an added legal hurdle, after being sentenced to life in prison and hard labour for the death of 30 opposition protesters killed by his presidential guard in February 2009.

"The transitional authorities have always shown their goodwill and remain focused on the final goal of the roadmap," Rajaona said.

The amnesty law, however, must originate in parliament, not with Rajoelina, she added.

Ravalomanana's supporters boycotted parliament's opening on Monday in protest at the prevention of his return Saturday.

Lawyer Honore Rakotomanana told AFP that an amnesty for Ravalomanana faces particular problems because he was convicted of violent crimes.

A former Senate leader and Constitutional Court chief, Rakotomanana said that the conviction could be contested in court, but that ultimately the political leaders needed to decide what to do with his case.

"It's up to the leaders to see what's covered under an amnesty. When there's a crisis, amnesty becomes a political act," he said.