Madagascar names interim central bank chief ahead of poll

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar said on Wednesday it had appointed Vonimanitra Razafimbelo as interim central bank governor after the previous chief died suddenly last month. The Indian Ocean island has faced political uncertainty for years, and as it heads into presidential elections on October 25, it is struggling to regain the confidence of foreign investors who had been eyeing deposits of oil, gold, chrome and uranium. Razafimbelo was the central bank's deputy director general under Guy Ratovondrahona, who headed the bank from February last year until his death on September 9. Among Razafimbelo's top priorities will be to speed up economic growth in Madagascar, a country which the World Bank forecasts will expand by 2.6 percent this year and which is ranked among the world's poorest nations. The former French colony has been in chaos since Andry Rajoelina seized power with military support in 2009, ousting former President Marc Ravalomanana after opposition protests. Neither will stand for election later this month.