The head of an elite Madagascar military unit ousted the African island country’s president in a coup, capping weeks of youth-led protests over poverty and other issues.

The leader of Madagascar's military coup says he is “taking the position of president” and that the armed forces will remain in charge of the sprawling African island nation for up to two years before elections are held.

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has been toppled in a military coup that capped weeks of youth-led protests over poverty, power outages and a lack of opportunity in the Indian Ocean island country.

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina says he has fled the country in fear for his life following a military rebellion.

The president of Madagascar says an attempted coup is underway in the Indian Ocean island country, a day after soldiers joined anti-government demonstrations.