Antananarivo - Madagascar opposition leader Andry Rajoelina announced Saturday that he would be meeting President Marc Ravalomanana following several days of mediation by church leaders.

Former Antananarivo mayor Rajoelina told a rally of some 10,000 supporters on the capital's historic May 13 Square that the meeting would go ahead later Saturday at a "neutral location" in the presence of church mediators.

He confirmed that he was prepared to take part in the meeting, and would convey the result to supporters on Sunday at a public church service.

Observers said it appeared this first meeting between the rivals for the country's leadership was prompted by Rajoelina calling on supporters Friday to prepare for a "long march" on Saturday - implying that the goal would be the presidential palace.

Rajoelina called off the march in his announcement Saturday, urging his supporters peacefully to go home and to "pray for Madagascar" and for him.

The palace is located in the suburb of Iavoloha, scene of bloody clashes in August 1991 when over 100 people were killed when then dictator Didier Ratsiraka ordered helicopters to fire on demonstrators.

The latest move follows several weeks of lethal clashes between the government and tens of thousands of protestors on the Indian Ocean island.

The Rajoelina-led opposition had occupied government ministries on Thursday after four days of demonstrations, during which they had repeatedly threatened to install Rajoelina's own ministerial choices.

On February 7, guards shot dead at least 28 unarmed demonstrators outside the presidential palace. Around 25,000 protestors marched on the ministry buildings on Thursday in a peaceful protest.

On Friday, the area was back in the hands of security forces and the city, which has been convulsed by four weeks of demonstrations and riots that have claimed over 100 lives, was mostly calm.

Rajoelina accuses Ravalomanana of authoritarianism and mismanaging public funds and his government be replaced by an interim two-year government led by him.

The president has refused to step down, saying he is the country's rightful leader since being re-elected to a second five-year term in 2006.

Several rounds of talks between delegations from both sides have taken place over the past two weeks. United Nations special envoy Haile Menkerios is leading the mediation. dpa ()