Nepal, Oct. 16 -- Colonel Michael Randrianirina had already become the face of Madagascar's military mutiny when he stood in uniform outside the presidential palace on Tuesday and told AFP the army had "taken power".

The 51-year-old commander with a history of opposing President Andry Rajoelina stepped into the limelight Saturday as leader of the mutinied CAPSAT contingent, declaring in a video statement they would "refuse orders to shoot" on anti-government demonstrators.

It was a turning point in a youth-led uprising that started on September 25: Rajoelina fled the country that weekend, impeached days later for desertion of duty.

The clean-cut Randrianirina, due to be sworn in as president on Friday by the country's top court, has pl...