Madagascar: MP who insulted president sentenced

A court in Madagascar has sentenced a senior member of parliament to almost a year in prison for insulting the president and spreading false information.

The MP, Jean Eugene Voninahitsy -- who's a vice president of parliament -- was charged with offending the head of state, following a row over floating bridges imported from the Ukraine.

President Didier Ratsiraka says the bridges were bought and wants to charge tolls, but Mr Voninahitsy insists they were a gift and that people shouldn't have to pay to use them. Mr Voninahitsy also received a further prison sentence for issuing bad cheques.

His lawyers have appealed against the ruling.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service