Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman have sent cables of condolences to Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina on the death of the former President Didier Ratsiraka.

In their messages, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince expressed condolences and sympathy to the president, the family of the deceased, and the people of Madagascar.

Madagascar’s longtime former leader Ratsiraka, a naval officer and instigator of a socialist revolution on the Indian Ocean island, died on March 28 aged 84.

He had been president of Madagascar twice, from 1975 to 1993, then from 1997 to 2002. The naval officer, nicknamed the “Red Admiral” for his socialist policies, had been hospitalized earlier last week for a routine check-up.