Organizations welcome Madagascar court's decision to stop lawmakers' bid to impeach president

The African Union has welcomed the decision by Madagascar's high court to reject parliament's effort to impeach the president.

Chairwoman of the union's commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, in a Wednesday statement called on decision makers to be responsible and avoid further instability after years of crisis.

The Carter Center, a civil society organization founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, commended the court's ruling as a step toward reconciliation in Madagascar's splintered political system.

Madagascar's High Constitutional Court over the weekend dismissed a vote by lawmakers to remove President Hery Rajaonarimampianina. Lawmakers accused him of repeatedly violating the constitution.

Rajaonarimampianina, who took over from a transitional government following the 2009 coup, does not have the backing of a stable majority in parliament. He took office at the end of 2013.