ANTANANARIVO, Oct 13, 2007 (AFP) - The Madagascan regime's landslide victory in last month's legislative polls was officially confirmed Saturday, with the presidential party securing 105 out of 125 seats.

The country's High Constitutional Court said reruns would have to be held in two constituencies where irregularities were reported to complete the makeup of the 127-seat chamber.

President Marc Ravalomanana's TIM (I Love Madagascar) party will face no serious challenge in parliament, as several opposition and independent lawmakers are expected to rally the regime.

ANTANANARIVO, Oct 9, 2007 (AFP) - A former close aide turned political opponent of Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana was sentenced to five years in prison for car theft, his lawyer told AFP Tuesday.

Pety Rakotoniaina was sentenced Monday for 'stealing three vehicles belonging to Fianarantsoa province in 2002 and 2003,' Adolphe Lalao said.

The lawyer alleged that the trial was politically-motivated and had produced insufficient evidence to convict his client.

ANTANANARIVO, Oct 5, 2007 (AFP) - One of Madagascar's opposition leaders walked free from court on Friday after being given an 18 month suspended sentence for embezzling public funds, his supporters said.

Roland Ratsiraka, a nephew of the exiled former president Didier Ratsiraka, faced four charges relating to funds for waste disposal contracts during his tenure as mayor of Toamasina. He owned one of the two companies given contracts.

Ratsiraka came third in the December 2006 presidential election which saw the re-election of president Marc Ravalomanana.

ANTANANARIVO, Sept 28, 2007 (AFP) - Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana's party won a landslide victory in the Indian Ocean island's parliamentary elections, according to official results published Friday.

The TIM (I Love Madagascar) party secured 106 out of the 127 seats that were up for grabs in the single ballot polls held on September 23, the interior ministry said.

The results mean that the presidential party tightens its grip on parliament, where it held 108 out of 160 seats before the chamber was downsized in a constitutional reform earlier this year.

ANTANANARIVO, Sept 24, 2007 (AFP) - Madagascar's ruling party has won all seats in the capital Antananarivo in legislative polls held at the weekend, the interior ministry said Monday.

President Marc Ravalomanana's TIM (I love Madagascar) party won in all six constituencies, setting it on a path to retain a majority in the Indian Ocean island's 127-member parliament.

Turnout was however low in the capital during Sunday's election, with the highest participation at around 32 percent, according to provisional results.

ANTANANARIVO, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - Madagascans voted Sunday for the Indian Ocean island's parliament, with President Marc Ravalomanana's party tipped to continue its domination with promises to slash poverty.

No incidents had been reported when the country's 17,586 polling stations closed at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT).

'The election is very calm, something rare in Africa,' Ravalomanana, once a milk delivery boy and today Madagascar's richest man, said after casting his ballot in the city centre.

ANTANANARIVO, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - Madagascans were voting Sunday for the Indian Ocean island's parliament, with President Marc Ravalomanana's party tipped to continue its domination of the assembly.

In the capital Antananarivo, voters started trickling to some of the vast Indian Ocean island's 17,586 polling stations shortly after 7:00 am (0400 GMT).

'The election is very calm, something rare in Africa,' Ravalomanana said after casting his ballot in the city centre.

ANTANANARIVO, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - Polling stations opened Sunday in Madagascar, where voters are electing 127 lawmakers after President Marc Ravalomanana dissolved parliament in July.

In the capital Antananarivo, voters started trickling to some of the vast Indian Ocean island's 17,586 polling stations shortly after 7:00 am (0400 GMT).

The single round majority ballot is due to close at 6:00 pm (1500 GMT). There are close to 7.5 registered voters in Madagascar, whose population is estimated at around 18 million.

ANTANANARIVO, Sept 23, 2007 (AFP) - Madagascans vote Sunday for the Indian Ocean island's parliament, with President Marc Ravalomanana's party tipped to continue its domination of the assembly.

Ravalomanana dissolved parliament in July, saying it no longer reflected national representation after a new constitution passed in April ended the autonomy of Madagascar's provinces.

The new charter also enhanced Ravalomanana's powers after he won presidential elections in December that were billed by observers as fair despite opposition protests.

ANATANANARIVO, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - Madagascar will hold early legislative elections on September 23, the presidency announced Thursday following a suprise dissolution of the Indian Ocean`s national assembly.

Voters will elect 127 lawmakers, said the statement posted on the website of President Marc Ravalomanana`s office. The assembly was being downsized from the current 160 seats, it said.

Ravalomanana said earlier that parliament was no longer representative of the country and new elections were necessary for him to carry out his development plans for the country.