Madagascar`s Ex-Leader Rejects Jail Sentence

Exiled in South Africa, Ravalomanana called on the Malagasy people to unite in rejecting the leadership of new incumbent Andry Rajoelina.

Madagascar's former leader Marc Ravalomanana rejected on Friday the jail sentence against him for abuse of office and accused the country's army-backed government of flouting rule of law.

Exiled in South Africa, Ravalomanana called on the Malagasy people to unite in rejecting the leadership of new incumbent Andry Rajoelina, who led weeks of popular protests against him earlier this year and seized power with military support.

"The statement made by the so-called Minister of Justice is invalid as it is the product of an insurrectional, illegal government, and contrary to the constitution of Madagascar," Ravalomanana said in a written statement.

The self-made millionaire was sentenced in absentia to four years in prison and a $70 million fine on Wednesday for mixing public and personal interests in the purchase of a presidential jet. Rajoelina's justice minister announced the sentence.

Ravalomanana said the unfounded convictions proved Rajoelina's administration had compromised the judiciary's independence.

African nations and foreign leaders have widely condemned the former DJ's takeover and urged political parties on the world's fourth largest island to resume stalled negotiations to end the turmoil.

$60 MILLION JET

The crisis, which began at the beginning of the year, has compounded nervousness among foreign investors eyeing Madagascar's oil and mining sectors following tumbling commodity prices. It has also scared off tourists.

Ravalomanana's government acquired the luxurious $60 million jet, dubbed Force One, in December.

That sparked fury among many of the island's 20 million people, most of whom have seen scant improvement to their impoverished lives following the influx of foreign firms such as Rio Tinto and Sherritt International.

Rajoelina seized on the jet deal, and a proposed plan to sell an area of farmland the size of Qatar to South Korean industrial group Daewoo, to galvanise popular sentiment against his rival.

Efforts continue behind closed doors to bring Madagascar's feuding rivals back to the negotiating table. But Ravalomanana's allies say the verdict risks killing the talks.

Analysts say that Rajoelina's actions are becoming increasingly brazen while his opponent is showing growing frustration as his influence on events diminishes with time.

Ravalomanana did not say whether the court's decision would alter his intention to return to Madagascar in the coming weeks.

"We must bring an end to this injustice. We must reverse this unconstitutional and illegal regime led by Andry Rajoelina," Ravalomanana said.

Rajoelina has promised elections by late 2010.