Southern African leaders reject Madagascar government

By Alain Iloniaina

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar's Prime Minister Monja Roindefo named a new government on Tuesday but Southern African leaders and the opposition refused to recognise it on the grounds it flouted a power-sharing deal.

The Indian Ocean island rich in oil and minerals has been rocked by turmoil since Andry Rajoelina toppled former leader Marc Ravalomanana from power in a March coup, scaring tourists and hurting the economy.

Under the terms of the deal agreed last month in Mozambique, the country's power-brokers were supposed to share out the top posts of president, vice president and prime minister to see the world's fourth largest island through to presidential polls.

But with the rivals still deadlocked, Roindefo pressed ahead and made 31 appointments in all, keeping himself and Rajoelina in the posts of prime minister and president.

Joaquim Chissano, Mozambique's former president who is mediating in the island's crisis, said Southern African leaders meeting in Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday had rejected "the unilateral decision taken in Madagascar".

"We will continue to negotiate to find a consensual solution. The current (Southern African Development Community) suspension will remain in place until they find a consensual and inclusive solution to the problem," he said.

Analysts said the government was unlikely to end the crisis, even if the balance of power currently lay with Rajoelina.

"Everybody agrees there must be negotiations as neither side can really go forward without the other. Rajoelina needs the donors back and the opposition wants to be back (in power), said Lille-based political risk consultant Lydie Boka.