Top Madagascar presidential hopeful alleges vote 'manipulation'

The frontrunner in Madagascar's presidential race accused election officials of "manipulation" in compiling results that showed him short of the absolute majority needed to avoid a second round run-off vote.

Former president Andry Rajoelina told a crowd of supporters in the capital Antananarivo that "everything had been done to prevent (him) from scoring more than 40 percent" in the November 7 first round.

"They inflated the number of registered voters and gave votes for (me) to other candidates," he said, attacking supposed "vote manipulation" by the CENI election commission.

Neither Rajoelina nor his arch-rival Marc Ravalomanana won the 50 percent of votes required for a first-round victory.

Rajoelina was on 39.19 percent and Ravalomanana on 35.29 percent, according to final results from the election commission.

The run-off is scheduled for December 19.

All three leading candidates, of a total of 36, have alleged fraud and malpractice by election authorities, and the result will be subject to fierce legal battles.