31.   The ruling followed several other decisions in the US Protestant church which have gone against supporters of gay ordination.

32.   The ruling followed an intervention by Irish President Mary Robinson who wanted a legal basis for the law approved by Parliament in March.

33.   The court ruling followed the recount of a December vote which showed Ravalomanana had defeated long-time ruler Didier Ratsiraka.

34.   The landmark ruling follows another ruling by the Privy Council earlier this year on a habeas corpus action.

35.   The new appeal ruling follows the fourth rejection by investigating magistrate Philippe Courroye.