Johannesburg - Southern African leaders were meeting in the mountain kingdom of Swaziland on Monday to discuss an aid package for hard-pressed Zimbabwe and punitive measures against Madagascar following the ousting of the island's president.

Heads of state or government from at least half of the 15 members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had arrived in the Swazi capital Mbabane for the one-day summit, a Swazi government spokeswoman said.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, whose country is looking for 2 billion dollars in aid, was among those present, as was South African President Kgalema Motlanthe and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, according to spokeswoman Macanjana Motsa.

It was not clear whether Madagascar's ousted president Marc Ravalomanana was present.

The leaders are to discuss a request by Zimbabwe's new power- sharing government for 2 billion dollars in aid to turn around the battered economy.

SADC foreign ministers met on Sunday already to discuss a proposed rescue package that would allow the cash-strapped government to restore basic services, distribute food to the needy and pay salaries.

The SADC leaders are also to discuss measures against the new administration in Madagascar, where the democratically-elected president Marc Ravalomanana stepped aside earlier this month under immense pressure from the army-backed opposition.

The international community has condemned Ravalomanana's toppling and refused to recognize his arch-rival Andry Rajoelina, a former mayor, as interim president, despite Madagascar's highest court confirming him in the role.

Ravalomanana was in Swaziland last week to meet with Swazi King Mswati III, who heads SADC's three-nation security panel.

SADC has raised the threat of sanctions against the Indian Ocean island, which the African Union has already suspended from its membership. (dpa)