Madagascar's president has sacked the country's foreign minister because he voted in favour of a UN resolution condemning Russian referendums to annex parts of Ukraine's territory, sources say.
Richard Randriamandrato pressed ahead with the vote without talking to the rest of the government, the AFP news agency reports, citing state TV channel TVM.
Two sources at the president's office also told Reuters news agency this was why he was sacked.
There were 142 other countries that also voted in favour of the resolution to condemn Russia over the referendums which were viewed as a sham by much of the international community.
Until now Madagascar has taken a neutral position on the Ukraine war, as have several other African countries.
The majority of the countries that abstained were African. Belarus, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria were the only countries to vote against the resolution.
Latest Stories
-
Stampede in southwestern Nigerian city causes multiple deaths
4 minutes -
Tens of thousands without water in Mayotte as curfew brought in
17 minutes -
ORAL: We won’t witch-hunt, we’ll focus on transparency, not revenge – Ablakwa
40 minutes -
Attempted robbery: Accused claims he carried cutlass for protection
57 minutes -
Excavator operator jailed for stealing
1 hour -
Embattled Liberian speaker questioned by police over parliament fire
3 hours -
‘I won’t be a judge in my own court; ORAL is about protecting public purse’ – Ablakwa
3 hours -
Bawumia joins thousands in Kumasi for burial prayers for Ashanti Regional Imam
3 hours -
Blue Gold Bogoso Prestea Limited challenges government actions in court
4 hours -
Verdicts due for 51 men in Pelicot mass rape trial that shook France
4 hours -
Syria not a threat to world, rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa tells BBC
4 hours -
Patrick Atangana Fouda: ‘A hero of the fight against HIV leaves us’
5 hours -
Trinity Oil MD Gabriel Kumi elected Board Chairman of Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies
5 hours -
ORAL campaign key to NDC’s election victory – North America Dema Naa
5 hours -
US Supreme Court to hear TikTok challenge to potential ban
6 hours