20120805
AFP
Six people remained in custody in Madagascar at a pre-trial hearing Saturday after an army mutiny two weeks ago at a military base that left three dead, the police chief said.

"Six people have been kept in custody and one released on bail," Mahefa Andriamorazaka, the national commander of the gendarmerie, told AFP.

"Among those two are soldiers and four civilians," he added.

"They are charged with threatening state security, murder, associating with criminals and mutiny."

Mutineers and loyalist forces exchanged fire on July 22 at a military base close to the Antananarivo-Ivato International Airport. The army regained control of the base the same day.

Apart from the seven who appeared at the pre-trial hearing two others are still in hospital.

The mutiny took place days before a meeting between interim President Andry Rajoelina and deposed leader Marc Ravalomanana on July 22, but what motivated it is still not clear.

It was the third mutiny since Ravalomanana was toppled in a coup backed by the army in March 2009.