Antananarivo - Madagascar's new interim President Andry Rajoelina is a former DJ with under two years experience in politics, none at national level, and who at 35 is five years too young to lead the country, according to the constitution.

Rajoelina's victorious bid to oust the democratically-elected Marc Ravalomanana as president through two months of street protests has startled the international community, both by its daring and disregard for the ballot box.

Antananarivo - Madagascar's constitutional court, the country's top court, on Wednesday confirmed Andry Rajoelina as the country's interim president, radio reports on the island said.

The court found that outgoing president Marc Ravalomanana's transfer of power to a panel of senior military officers, and their subsequent handover of power to the opposition leader, was constitutional, the reports said.

Rajoelina had asked the court to formalize his army-backed accession to power, which followed a two-month campaign of street protests.

Antananarivo  - Madagascar's neighbours in the Southern African Development Community have denounced the undemocratic character of the opposition's power grab after the military named populist opposition leader Andry Rajoelina interim president.

A group of senior military officers handed over the reins of power after being entrusted by departing President Marc Ravalomanana with running the country until new elections when he stepped down under pressure on Monday.

"We have categorically rejected the authority that Ravalomanana asked us to set up after his resignation," navy vice-admiral Hippolyte Ramaroson Rarison was quoted by local media as telling journalists.

Antananarivo, Madagascar  - Regional African powers on Wednesday criticized the "undemocratic" actions of Madagascar's opposition as a protracted power struggle on the island drew to an end.

A senior military team on Tuesday transferred power to Madagascar opposition leader Andry Rajoelina that had been handed to it by President Marc Ravalomanana.

South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, who chairs the Southern African Development Community, stressed that the regional group would not tolerate undemocratic actions.

Antananarivo  - Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana on Tuesday said handing over power after seven years as leader of the Indian Ocean island had been "very hard" to do as he entrusted a team of senior military officers with the running of the country.

Speaking on national TVM television, the 59-year-old leader, who looked tired after a protracted power struggle with the opposition, said the decision to give up power had been difficult because he was the "legal president."

Antananarivo - A tense calm reigned in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, on Tuesday after mutinous troops cranked up the mounting pressure on President Marc Ravalomanana to step down by storming one of his palaces Monday evening.

Scores of troops supported by three tanks burst through the gates of the president's administrative palace in the centre of the capital after night fell Monday, reportedly firing grenades and shots as they advanced.