Madagascar leader is re-elected

Dairy tycoon Marc Ravalomanana is known as 'the milkman'

Malagasy leader Marc Ravalomanana has been re-elected president after winning 54.8% of the vote, Madagascar's interior ministry has said.

The absolute majority won by Mr Ravalomanana, a self-made dairy tycoon, avoided a second round of voting.

The result has to be confirmed by the Constitutional High Court.

In the last poll, in 2001, the island nation was pushed to the brink of civil war after then-incumbent Didier Ratsiraka refused to accept defeat.

A former speaker of the national assembly, Jean Lahiniriko, gained 11.68%.

Roland Ratsiraka, the nephew of ex-president Didier Ratsiraka, received 10.9% of votes.

A total of 61.45% of the country's registered 7.3 million voters went to the polling stations, the interior ministry said.