Madagascar's coup leader Col. Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as president on Friday after the military took power in the Indian Ocean island nation. Randrianirina, the commander of an elite army…

An army colonel who seized power in a military coup was sworn in as Madagascar's new leader Friday in a lightning-fast power grab that ousted the president and sent him fleeing from the country into hiding.

An army colonel who seized power in Madagascar, Michael Randrianirina, was sworn in as the new leader of the country in a lightning-fast power grab that ousted the president and sent him fleeing from the country into hiding. Story by Morgan Ayre.

Madagascar Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as president on Friday, after the military took power in the island nation following youth-led protests that forced Andry Rajoelina to flee. Details by FRANCE 24 correspondent in Antananarivo, Gaelle Borgia.

Colonel Michael Randrianirina sworn in as Madagascar’s new president after a military coup ousted Rajoelina, pledging unity amid AU and UN condemnation.

Colonel Michael Randrianirina was officially sworn in as president of Madagascar on Friday, following a military coup that toppled the previous administration. His rise to power came in the wake of widespread youth-led protests, which were fueled by public dissatisfaction with chronic electricity and water shortages and pervasive poverty.

He is set to become Madagascar's new president after mass protests led to the toppling of Andry Rajoelina. But who is the colonel Michael Randrianirina, who has become the face of the country's latest power grab? He has vowed to 'quickly' appoint a new civilian prime minister and to hold elections within two years. In the meantime, he announced the creation of a military council composed of army and police officers to lead the country.