Madagascar rivals reach agreement

Mr Rajoelina and Mr Ravalomanana have been arguing for months

Madagascar's rival political leaders have agreed to form a power-sharing government after months of wrangling.

Current leader Andry Rajoelina said the four leaders agreed at talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that he would continue as president until elections next year.

He said that instead of vice-presidents there would be two co-presidents representing other political groups.

Mr Rajoelina replaced Marc Ravalomanana in March, but failed to win international backing.

Mr Rajoelina and his allies, who accused Mr Ravalomanana of being a tyrant who misspent public money, were themselves accused by the African Union of taking power through a coup and foreign aid was frozen.

The two rivals and two other former presidents, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy, agreed in August to a 15-month transition period but until now have been arguing over the details of the deal.

The power struggle led to the deaths of more than 100 people in violent riots and crippled the Indian Ocean island's tourist industry.