Antananarivo - The United States embassy in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of all non- critical embassy staff from the island.

The embassy said in a travel advisory that it had moved to "ordered departure" which meant that "non non-mission critical personnel and their families have been ordered to depart."

The embassy also urged private US citizens to "seriously consider the risks of staying."

Madagascar's top court earlier Wednesday approved erstwhile opposition leader Andry Rajoelina as interim president, following the resignation of Marc Ravalomanana at the end of a seven-week power struggle.

The US embassy on Tuesday denied rumours that the ex-president was sheltering at the mission. (dpa)