ANTANANARIVO, Nov 26 (Reuters) - A former judge at the International Court of Justice was expected on Friday to face trial in Madagascar in connection with last week's failed coup attempt by a handful of rebel troops.
A military police commander, Colonel Richard Ravalomanana, told reporters judge Raymond Ranjeva had been quizzed over possible links between past declarations that he was willing to be part of a new government, and the four-day mutiny.
The rebellion ended almost a week ago after the army stormed the BANI barracks on the outskirts of the capital Antananarivo and arrested nearly 20 military officers who had threatened to overthrow the government on the Indian Ocean island.
A source close to the military police said Ranjeva was set to face legal proceedings.
"We are in the process of wrapping up inquiries ... (Ranjeva) is among those who will be presented before the court in connection with the BANI affair. Why wouldn't he be?" the source told Reuters.
Ranjeva was later seen arriving at a court in the capital where those behind the mutiny were expected to appear later on Friday, or early Saturday.
Political analysts said Ranjeva, who hails from the Merina nobility, had widespread support among civil society leaders and might have made a popular leader had the plot been successful.
In October, Ranjeva publicly lashed out at President Andry Rajoelina, accusing Africa's youngest leader of turning his back on a negotiated end to the political turmoil, triggered when Rajolina seized power with military support in March 2009.
"To Andry Rajoelina ... I simply ask the handover of responsibilities to a truly neutral interim authority. I put myself at the disposal of the real transition," he said then.
Ranjeva was a member of the U.N. International Court of Justice in the Hague between 1991 and 2009. (Reporting by Alain Iloniaina; editing by Richard Lough and Philippa Fletcher) (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://af.reuters.com)
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