Madagascar 'keeps politician out'

All flights were to be re-routed

Madagascar authorities closed an airport in the city of Tamatave as exiled opposition leader Pierrot Rajaonarivelo was returning home.

The former deputy prime minister had said he was coming back to stand in December's presidential elections.

Police used tear gas to break up a demonstration by his supporters.

Mr Rajaonarivelo, who has been living in Paris since 2002, was sentenced in August to 15 years' hard labour for misuse of funds. He denies the charges.

The government had said it would arrest him the moment he set foot in Madagascar.

Mr Rajaonarivelo returned recently to the French island of Reunion.

He had planned to fly to Tamatave - an opposition stronghold - to attend a meeting of his party, Arema.

About 1,000 Arema supporters had turned up at the airport to wait for their leader.

"The Tamatave airport will be closed from 7 October at 1000 (0700 GMT) to 7 January at 23:59 pm (2059 GMT)," said Abel Rakotongrafoa, an official with Aviation Civile de Madagascar.

Police then fired tear gas to disperse Mr Rajaonarivelo's supporters. No injuries were reported.

Mr Rajaonarivelo has until 14 October to register his name as a candidate for the December election.

He served as deputy prime minister in the government of President Didier Ratsiraka - who has also been in exile in Paris since 2002 when the country was split in two following disputed presidential elections.