President escapes chopper fire
Antananarivo - Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana, his wife Lalao and a government minister escaped unhurt when their helicopter caught fire on landing, a presidential aide said on Thursday. Raymond Ramandimbilahatra said the rotor assembly burst into flames as the helicopter was landing on Wednesday on rough ground at Imerin'Imady, in the centre of the country, as Ravalomana was on a tour. "We don't known what caused the accident," he said. "Perhaps it was the turbulence of another helicopter which had landed just before." The president and his wife, along with minister for decentralisation and improvement, Jean Angelin Randrianarison, were able to leave the helicopter without injury. Ravalomanana delivered a scheduled speech at Imerin'Imady before returning to the capital on board a spare helicopter sent to fetch him, Ramandimbilahatra said, adding that an investigation would be launched into the accident.