Johannesburg

Growing number of South African drug mules held as new hub emerges

Growing number of South African drug mules held as new hub emerges Johannesburg - Around 30 South Africans are arrested every month in Brazil on drug smuggling charges - a huge increase in the past two years as South Africa emerges as a new hub in the global drug smuggling business.

Friends/Family of South African Detainees Abroad (FOSADA) sounded the alarm Friday over what it called a dramatic increase in the number of South Africans detained in Brazil on suspicion of being drug mules.

EXTRA: Southern African group rejects Madagascar's new leader

Southern African group rejects Madagascar's new leader Johannesburg  - The Southern African Development Community on Thursday rejected Andry Rajoelina as Madagascar's interim president, saying the manner of his coming to power was "unconstitutional" and called on the international community to follow suit.

The 15-country regional economic grouping, of which Madagascar is a member, met in Swaziland to discuss Rajoelina's bloodless army- backed ouster of Marc Ravalomanana from the presidency this week.

Andry Rajoelina's march to power in Madagascar

Andry Rajoelina's march to power in Madagascar Johannesburg - Andry Rajoelina was officially declared interim president of Madagascar on Wednesday after overcoming the country's democratically-elected leader, Marc Ravalomanana, through a two-month campaign of street protests.

Following is a timeline of key events in his march to power:

December 2007: Rajoelina, a businessman and former DJ, is elected mayor of the capital Antananarivo in a landslide victory over Ravalomanana's candidate

Madagascar military hand newly-gotten power to Rajoelina

Madagascar military hand newly-gotten power to Rajoelina Johannesburg  - The senior military team to whom Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana handed power on Tuesday has transferred that power to opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, who is calling himself president, reports said Tuesday.

The BBC and Malagasy news sites reported that Navy Vice-Admiral Hippolyte Ramaroson Rarison told a press conference that the military team was giving Rajoelina power to become president of a transitional authority.

CHRONOLOGY: Key events in Madagascar's tumultuous power struggle

Key events in Madagascar's tumultuous power struggle Johannesburg - Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana announced Tuesday he was transferring his powers to a military directorate after coming under immense pressure to resign as leader of the impoverished Indian Ocean island.

His move, which observers say does not constitute a resignation, marks a new twist in his months-long standoff with opposition leader Andry Rajoelina.

Following is a timeline of key events in that power struggle:

Madagascar president digs in as power crumbles

Madagascar president digs in as power crumblesAntananarivo/Johannesburg  - Madagascar's opposition continued to ratchet up pressure on President Marc Ravalomanana to resign on Monday, rubbishing his proposal for a referendum and ordering his arrest for alleged constitutional violations.

But the embattled president of seven years was refusing to quit, despite losing control of the government and the army.

A defiant Ravalomanana emerged from his palace Sunday to tell supporters he still had a mandate to govern after being re-elected in 2006 and proposing that the attempt to oust him be put to a vote.

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