France has suspended the visas of Madagascar's three leading presidential candidates, including transition President Andry Rajoelina, amid the election dispute.

In a statement released on Monday, the French Embassy in Madagascar said the visas were suspended over their contested candidature. The other two candidates suspended include the ex- first lady Lalao Ravalomanana and ex-president Didier Ratsiraka.

"France has been closely following the recent political developments in Madagascar. It appeals to Ms. Ravalomanana, Rajoelina and Ratsiraka to respect the recommendations made by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) as well as the African Union (AU), and withdraw their candidature in the forthcoming elections," the statement said.

"Just like SADC and AU, France will not recognize the election results if these three candidates insist on running," the statement said.

France wants to appeal to Madagascar's political class to act in the supreme interests of Madagascar and its people, the statement noted, affirming that the country will not welcome on its soil the individuals who are blocking the process to end Madagascar's crisis.

On May 10, the Troika Organ of SADC presidents, which was held in South Africa, urged Rajoelina, Ratsiraka and Ms. Ravalomanana to abandon their candidature for the sake of peace and stability that needs to prevail during the Madagascan elections.

After the recommendations of the SADC, the AU's Peace and Security Council, the representative of the European Union (EU) Catherine Ashton and the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon also expressed their concerns over the candidature of the three personalities.

The dispute hit the headlines in the Indian Ocean island country after Rajoelina went back on his pledge to avoid the election to end the crisis since late 2008.

The 39-year-old interim president, Africa's youngest leader, replaced Ms. Ravalomanana's husband in March 2009 with the backing of the military. The takeover has since been considered a coup. Under a roadmap brokered by the SADC, politicians have agreed to end the crisis through a presidential vote. The ongoing dispute over the candidacy, however, threatens to derail the process.