Madagascar parliament debates impeaching president

Madagascar's President Hery Rajaonarimanpianina faced impeachment today after lawmakers demanded he be stripped of his power for alleged constitutional violations and general incompetence.
The parliament of the Indian Ocean island nation began debating an impeachment motion late tonight.
The motion was signed by 115 lawmakers -- out of a total of 151 -- representing all the political groups in parliament, an official told the assembly.
Two-thirds of the members must back the motion for the country's constitutional court to rule that Rajaonarimanpianina must step down, opposition lawmaker Christine Razanamahasoa said.
His opponents accuse Rajaonarimanpianina, who took office in January 2014 after winning the first democratic elections on the island since 2006, of stalling on the establishment of a high court and implementation of promised reforms.

"He no longer knows what he's doing. He's incompetent," Tinoka Roberto, an MP close to ex-president Andry Rajoelina said.
The US embassy in a statement expressed support for the president and called on parliament to put the stability of the country first.