Madagascar minister fired for voting against Russia's Ukraine annexation - Reuters.com

ANTANANARIVO, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Madagascar's president has fired his overseas affairs curate for voting astatine the United Nations to condemn Russian-organised referendums to annex 4 partially-occupied regions successful Ukraine, 2 sources astatine the president's bureau said.

Last Wednesday, the U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn what it said was Russia's "attempted amerciable annexation" of the 4 regions successful Ukraine and called connected each countries not to recognise the move. work much

Of the 193-member General Assembly, 143 countries voted successful enactment of a solution that besides reaffirmed the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine wrong its internationally recognised borders.

Two elder officials astatine President Andriy Rajoelina's bureau told Reuters curate Richard Randriamandrato was sacked for being 1 of those who voted successful support.

Russia's penetration of Ukraine this twelvemonth has enactment galore African countries successful an awkward diplomatic position. Many person a analyzable past of relations with the West and the erstwhile Soviet Union arsenic good arsenic important economical ties to Russia.

They person mostly avoided taking sides implicit the war, frustrating immoderate Western nations.

Until past week, Madagascar ever abstained during the assorted votes connected resolutions related to the situation successful Ukraine. The authorities spoke of neutrality and non-alignment connected the subject.

Randriamandrato declined to comment.

Eighteen of the 35 countries to abstain connected past week's ballot were African. Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Nicaragua voted against the resolution.

Reporting by Lovasoa Rabary; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Alex Richardson

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