Madagascar military leader sworn in as president after youth-led protests

Colonel Michael Randrianirina has been sworn in as the new president of Madagascar days after a military takeover on the Indian Ocean nation.

He succeeds ousted President Andry Rajoelina, who fled the country and was later impeached following weeks of youth-led protests demanding greater accountability from his government.

The ceremony took place at the Constitutional Court in the capital, Antananarivo, where a large crowd gathered to watch - including those who spearheaded the protests.

The country now enters a transition period, which will be full of political obstacles and legal uncertainty - though there is cautious optimism about Col Randrianirina's leadership.

When taking power on Tuesday he said the military would form a government and hold elections within two years.

Ahead of Friday's swearing-in, he added that reforming the electoral commission and cleaning up the voters' roll were essential before fresh elections could be held, according to news site L'Express de Madagascar.