20100122

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar's leader Andry Rajoelina has snubbed the African Union's top diplomat, again rejecting calls for a consensus government to be formed without delay to resolve a political crisis on the Indian Ocean island.

The AU's Jean Ping left Madagascar on Friday after meeting the main power brokers and urging power-sharing deals agreed last year to be respected to end the year-long turmoil that has crippled economic growth and unnerved investors.

Rajoelina ruled out power-sharing in a statement late on Thursday: "...It is already the source of a new crisis and the origin of serious troubles in our country in recent times."

"We're not concerned by the current reactions," Ping told reporters after meeting the military leaders who backed Rajoelina's March coup, the government and opposition parties.

"The parties now have 15 days (to respond). We will wait for their definitive reactions and base our conclusions on those."

Rajoelina's hardline stance will do little to appease donors who stress that frozen aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars will only be released once there is a roadmap towards restoring constitutional order that is backed by all sides.

Africa's youngest leader, who insists elections are the best way out of the crisis, added that last year's failed attempts to set up a unity government were proof a multiparty, inclusive administration was the wrong answer.

"The transitional regime repeats its commitment to organising consensual elections, free and inclusive in their preparation and organisation," said Rajoelina, who has scheduled elections for March 20.