Mob topples president, opposition leader confiscates power in Madagascar

Madagascar opposition leader Andry Rajoelina has unilaterally declared himself president as mobs backing him forced out the constitutionally-elected president Marc Ravalomanana. This came a day after the legal head of state, whose constitutional term ended in 2011, offered a referendum on his rule as solution to the country's political crisis. Rajoelina rejected this democratic olive branch.

Earlier, the African Union had warned against a coup d'Etat in the country but obviously their call went unheeded.

More on this as events unfold.