By Alain Iloniaina ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - The African Union (AU) has said it will not recognize Andry Rajoelina as Madagascar's president if he wins July's presidential election, piling more pressure on the incumbent leader not to stand. Rajoelina plunged the country into a still-unresolved political crisis in 2009 when he seized power with military support in what the AU called a coup. The ensuing turmoil has stunted foreign investment and badly hurt economic growth. ...

Things just got much worse for two critically endangered tortoise species in Madagascar. Illegal poaching is "raging out of control" and pushing radiated and ploughshare tortoises to the brink of extinction, according to a statement from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

By Alain Iloniaina ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar will go ahead with a planned presidential election in July, an international mediator said on Sunday, days after the leader of the Indian Ocean island reneged on a promise not to run. Andry Rajoelina, who seized power in a coup in 2009, had said in January he would not put his name forward, bowing to pressure from regional powers to stand aside to prevent unrest in this year's vote. ...

By Alain Iloniaina ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar's former president Didier Ratsiraka will contest national elections in July in a bid to become the Indian Ocean island state's leader for the third time, his supporters said on Saturday. Madagascar has been in crisis since Andry Rajoelina, now president, led an uprising that ousted former President Marc Ravalomanana from office in 2009, triggering turmoil that scared off investors and devastated the vital tourism sector. ...

A new species of dinosaur from the island of Madagascar has been identified.

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - The wife of Madagascar's ousted President Marc Ravalomanana has put herself forward to run in July's presidential election, a move that could be aimed at preparing a comeback by the fallen leader. The impoverished island nation has been in crisis since Marc Rajoelina, now president, led an uprising that ousted Ravalomanana from office in 2009, triggering turmoil that scared off investors and devastated the vital tourism industry. ...