ANTANANARIVO, April 1st (Xinhua) -- The Indian Ocean island country Madagascar decided to withdraw from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina announced on Wednesday.

    During his visit to Fianarantsoa, a town 410 kilometers south of the capital, on Wednesday, Rajoelina told a mass gathering that he had consulted with Madagascan business community leaders, who told him that they were not ready to compete with their foreign counterparts.

    Rajoelina said that the business community leaders asked the High Transitional Authority to help them.

    At an extraordinary summit on Monday, the SADC suspended Madagascar from all community institutions and organs until the return of constitutional order in the country.

    The SADC wanted the outgoing president Marc Ravalomanana, who stepped down on March 17 and handed power to the military which in turn transferred power to Ravalomanana's rival Rajoelina, to retake his position as President of Madagascar, which joined the SADC in 2005.

    However, rumors circulating here said that Ravalomanana did not consulted Madagascan business community leaders but he expressed his willingness to join SADC because his company Tiko could take advantage from it.

    Rajoelina was sworn in as President of the island country on March 21, following the High Constitutional Court legalizing his presidency and the transitional government he set up on Feb. 7.

    The main decision-making committee of the SADC on March 19 urged the African Union and the international community not to recognize Andry Rajoelina as Madagascar's President and called for a return to democratic and constitutional rule in the shortest time possible.

    Ravalomanana said at the SADC extraordinary session that the only solution to the political crisis was to help his democratically elected government back to power.

    Ravalomanana claimed that there were rallies in different parts of the country every day, asking for his return.

    Ravalomanana asked the SADC to help save Madagascar from chaos and anarchy and help him go back to Madagascar, saying that the situation prevailing in Madagascar was unacceptable, the rule of law and democracy must be restored.

    "Once back in power I will constitute a new consensus inclusive government, establish an independent electoral commission, restructure and retrain the army and the police, with the assistance of SADC and other partners," Ravalomanana promised.

    He also promised to improve business climate, ensure that the rule of law is observed and national consultations for either a referendum or anticipated presidential elections be held.

    The sacked president handed over his presidency to a military committee on March 17 following by an announcement of resign.

    However, the top brass transferred the presidency to Rajoelina hours later and, on the following day, the High Constitutional Court legalized his presidency and the transitional government.

    Ravalomanana was forced to get out of the country shortly after that.