Maputo  - Madagascar's embattled interim President Andry Rajoelina on Friday ignored calls by his rivals for him to step aside and let someone else lead the country out of an eight-month-old political crisis.

Speaking on national television, Rajoelina insisted he would remain president of the interim authority he formed after ousting ex- president Marc Ravalomanana from power in March.

Rajoelina also said he had instructed his prime minister to overhaul his cabinet within 72 hours and get rid of underperforming ministers, apparently leaving his prime minister to continue in his role.

At talks in Maputo last month, Rajoelina, Ravalomanana and two other former presidents, ex-dictator Didier Ratsiraka and ex- president Albert Zafy, agreed to form a power-sharing government in a bid to restore stability to the vast island of 20 million people.

The agreement gave them 30 days from August 9 to agree on the composition of the government. Until now, they have failed to agree on who should become president, vice-president and prime minister.

A second round of talks in Mozambique at the end of August failed to resolve the impasse.

The international community had threatened to suspend aid to the island if they fail to reach agreement.

On Friday, the leaders were expected to submit their nominations for the positions to a team of mediators from the United Nations, African Union, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Organization of French- speaking Countries, headed by former Mozambique president Joaquim Chissano.

On Thursday, given their failure to reach agreement, the Ravalomanana, Zafy and Ratsiraka camps said they wanted the three posts to be filled by the military - a proposal the military declined on Friday.

Rajoelina, 35, led a campaign of street protests over Ravalomanana's uncompromising leadership style which culminated with the army nudging the democratically-elected Ravalomanana into exile in southern Africa. Over 100 people, mostly unarmed demonstrators, were killed in the protests.

SADC and the African Union suspended Madagascar's membership over Rajoelina's power grab, which triggered further violent protests and wrecked the island's tourism industry, its chief earner.  dpa