Madagascar's former president has been moved from detention facility to house arrest

A representative of Madagascar's former president says the ousted leader has been transferred to house arrest in the capital Antananarivo.

Brian Currin said Saturday that Marc Ravalomanana was formally placed under house arrest. Ravalomanana was previously detained in the northern city of Antsiranana, 700 kilometers (435 miles) from the capital.

Currin said Ravalomanana was allowed to return home to Antananarivo on Dec. 24 to spend Christmas with his family. Madagascan authorities decided to allow Ravalomanana to remain in the capital, where he is being held in the home he shares with his wife and sons.

Ravalomanana was arrested in October when he returned to Madagascar following more than five years in exile in South Africa.

He fled Madagascar in March 2009 after he was removed from office by a coup.