Former Madagascar leader says Rajoelina must go

By Alain Iloniaina

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Prospects for a deal to end Madgascar's political crisis looked grim on Wednesday after a former leader refused to negotiate unless President Andry Rajoelina stepped aside.

The African Union said earlier on Wednesday that Madagascar's political leaders would meet next week in Ethiopia in another attempt to hammer out the details of a power-sharing deal aimed at restoring constitutional order.

Rajoelina, who at 35 is Africa's youngest leader, unseated Ravalomanana in a coup after weeks of popular protests against the former leader's alleged abuse of power.

"It is non-negotiable. I will never accept Rajoelina as president of the transition," Marc Ravalomanana, the former leader ousted in March, told French newspaper Le Monde.

The African Union has said the post of president was not up for discussion at the latest meeting, slated for November 3-5 in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.

Ravalomanana, a self-made millionaire now exiled in South Africa, said he would stay there if there was no need for him at the negotiating table.

Ravalomanana opposed a reshuffle of key posts earlier this month, endorsed by the international community, which saw Rajoelina retain the presidency and a relatively unknown social anthropology professor picked as prime minister.

NOT FOR DISCUSSION