Madagascar former President Didier Ignace Ratsiraka has died aged 84, the country's president announced on Sunday.

"The Malagasy have lost an illustrious patriot," President Andry Rajoelina posted on Twitter.

The president sent his condolences to relatives, the military community and the citizens of Madagascar.

The former president died at the military hospital of Soavinandriana in the capital, Antananarivo, where he had been receiving treatment since 22 March.

Mr Ratsiraka, who seized power as a young naval officer in 1975, governed Madagascar until 1991 and again from 1996 to 2002.

After losing elections in 2002, he left the country for France until his return nine years later.

While in exile in 2003, a Madagascan court sentenced him in absentia to 10 years' hard labour for corruption.

Years later, the current president told him that he was free to return