Gilles Andriamahazo
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General Gilles Andriamahazo (5 May 1919 – 13 September 1989) was a Malagasy general and political figure. He served as the head of state of Madagascar (Chairman of the National Military Leadership Committee) and minister of defense between 12 February and 15 June 1975.<ref name="bidwell">Template:Cite book</ref>
Early life and military career
Born in Fort Dauphin, Anosy Region on 13 May<ref>Biography Template:Webarchive at s9.com, accessed 10 March 2009.</ref> 1919, he followed a military career. During World War II Andriamahazo served in the French Army and participated in the French military campaign against Algerian nationalists in the 1950s. He retired as an army officer in 1976.<ref name="Obit"/>
Government
He was the successor of Richard Ratsimandrava after the latter's assassination. He served as head of state from 12 February to 15 June 1975, when he resigned in favour of Didier Ratsiraka. He is widely credited with having prevented an outbreak of civil war during the tension that followed Colonel Ratsimandrava's assassination.<ref name="Obit"/> He died of a heart attack at the age of 70, on 14 September 1989.<ref name="Obit">Obituary at New York Times, 15 September 1989, retrieved 10 March 2009.</ref>