Sep 25, 2009

* Madagascar president illegitimate, official says

* Rajoelina had received a formal UN invitation

By Andrew Quinn

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 25 (Reuters) - African nations blocked the president of Madagascar from addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, saying his rise to power through a military coup made him illegitimate.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, speaking on behalf of the 15-member Southern African Development Community, said Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina should be barred, a motion later carried by a vote on the Assembly floor.

"Madagascar is represented at this session of the assembly by persons who rose from an attempted coup," Congo Foreign Minister Alexis Thambwe-Mwamba said as the delegation from the oil and mineral producing Indian Ocean island sat silently at their desk.

The president of the Assembly, Libya's Ali Triki, said the U.N. legal counsel had ruled that Rajoelina -- who had received an official U.N. invitation to attend the assembly -- should be allowed to participate and then called for a vote that quickly led to confusion.

"I'm not sure what we just voted for. I'm totally confused," one delegate said after the circuitously worded motion was put the floor.

Finally, with most countries abstaining, the Africans marshaled 23 votes against Rajoelina versus four in support and he was prevented from taking the podium.

reuters