The Southern African Development Community (Sadc) has suspended Madagascar's membership after the opposition, backed by the military, seized power in the Indian Ocean island nation.

The 15-nation group, which was meeting in Swaziland on Monday, said it would not recognise the presidency of Andry Rajoelina, who took power after Marc Ravalomanana, the former president, stepped down following months of pressure.

"The extraordinary summit suspends Madagascar from all community institutions and organs until the return of the country to constitutional order," Tomaz Salomao, the Sadc executive director, said.

A communique issued at the end of the summit urged Rajoelina to vacate the presidency and called for the reinstatement of Ravalomanana.

King Mswati of Swaziland, who was chairing the summit, had earlier said that the recent takeover was unconstitutional and "violates basic principles, protocols and treaties".

Power transfer

Rajoelina led months of protests against Ravalomanana, accusing him of misspending public funds and behaving like a dictator, before the president stepped aside after losing the support of elements of the military.

"The prospect of an Sadc intervention is unacceptable. Other states cannot interfere with the decision of [Madagascar's] high constitutional court."

Rajoelina also said that auditors were reviewing all contractors with foreign investors as the country was receiving too little revenue.

"When you look at the rate of fees fixed, and those that must be paid, there is a large gap," he said. "This concerns all the contracts, especially in the mining sector."