Johannesburg - Andry Rajoelina was officially declared interim president of Madagascar on Wednesday after overcoming the country's democratically-elected leader, Marc Ravalomanana, through a two-month campaign of street protests.

Following is a timeline of key events in his march to power:

December 2007: Rajoelina, a businessman and former DJ, is elected mayor of the capital Antananarivo in a landslide victory over Ravalomanana's candidate

December 2008: The state takes Rajoelina's TV station off air for broadcasting an interview with exiled dictator Didier Ratsiraka, whom Ravalomanana succeeded in 2002

January 26/27: A mass opposition demonstration and general strike in Antananarivo ends in widespread looting and destruction of property. Dozens are killed.

January 31: Rajoelina unilaterally declares himself leader of Madagascar.

February 3: Government sacks him as the capital's mayor

February 7: Guards open fire without warning on opposition protestors trying to breach the exclusion zone around the president's offices, killing 28 people.

February 10: Rajoelina announces the formation of a rival interim government

February 23/24: Ravalomanana and Rajoelina hold talks brokered by a local church body. The talks break down after two days.

March 8: Troops at the island's largest barracks begin refusing the president's orders over the use of excessive force against civilians

March 12: Three days of UN-mandated multi-party reconciliation talks are called off after Rajoelina refuses to attend

March 14: The opposition seizes the prime minister's office and other government buildings.

March 16. Rajoelina' rejects Ravalomanana's proposal to hold a referendum on whether he should remain in office. Mutinous troops storm the president's offices.

March 17: Ravalomanana announces he is stepping down and hands power to a military directorate. The military transfers that power to Rajoelina.

March 18: The constitutional court rules that Rajoelina is the country's legitimate interim president. Rajoelina declares his win a triumph for democracy. (dpa)