The deposed president of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, has promised Southern African leaders that if he is returned to power, he will form a "consensus inclusive government" and national consultations towards a referendum or new presidential elections.

In an address to leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Monday, Ravalomanana also said he would set up an independent electoral commission and restructure and retrain the army and the police.

He also accused Madagascar's new leader, Andry Rajoelina, of seizing power "through terrorism."

His address was released by his supporters on Tuesday, after SADC had called on Rajoelina to step down on the grounds that he had illegally ousted Ravalomanana.

In a communique released after a one-day extraordinary summit, the SADC leaders suspended Madagascar from taking part in the organisation's activities.

They said the summit "decided not to recognize Mr Rajoelina as President of Madagascar as his appointment did not only violate the Constitution of Madagascar and democratic principles, but also violated the core principles and values of the SADC Treaty, the African Union Constitutive Act and the United Nations Charter."

SADC said if Rajoelina did not step down, it would consider "other options." These were not spelled out, but under African Union protocols sanctions can be imposed if a country fails to comply with an AU directive.

The regional leaders also moved the next AU assembly in July, which had been scheduled to take place in Madagascar, to Mauritius.