Madagascar’s military on Tuesday announced it had assumed control of the Indian Ocean island nation after President Andry Rajoelina fled abroad, capping weeks of anti-government protests and deepening one of the country’s gravest political crises in years.

Colonel Michael Randrianirina, a commander in the elite CAPSAT unit, declared on national radio that the army had “taken the power” following the president’s flight and the National Assembly’s vote to impeach him.

Randrianirina, who led a mutiny of soldiers siding with demonstrators, said the armed forces were dissolving all institutions except the lower house of parliament, which minutes earlier had voted to remove Rajoelina. He said a council made up of military and gendarmerie officers would now take charge and quickly appoint a p

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