Madagascar's constitutional court has thrown out parliament's bid to dismiss President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, the BBC News reported.

The court said impeachment proceedings launched last month had "no legal foundation" and that the president had not violated the constitution.

The opposition, which controls parliament, rejected the ruling.

Rajaonarimampianina has been in office for 16 months and it was hoped his election would end years of political unrest in the country.

Under Madagascar's constitution, an impeachment vote requires a two-thirds majority of the 151 members of the national assembly.