Airpsace closed to ousted Madagascar pres

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Officials blocked ousted former president of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana from flying into the country to end a three-year exile in South Africa.

Madagascar airspace was closed Saturday as the flight from Johannesburg attempted to bring the self-made millionaire back to the country, Radio France Internationale reported Sunday.

A transitional government took over in November in a deal that would allow the return of political exiles.

"It's clear that the transitional president (Rajoelina) doesn't want to apply the roadmap. For us, it's a unilateral decision, as usual," Roland Ravatomanga, agriculture minister an former aid to Ravalomanana told RFI.

Ravalomanana fled Madagascar in 2009 after being sentenced to life in prison and hard labor for the deaths of 30 opposition protesters killed by his guard.

Security forces said Friday Ravalomanana would immediately be arrested if he attempted to enter the country.