By Gordon Bell and Serena Chaudhry
MBABANE (Reuters) - SOUTHERN (SO.NY)African leaders suspended Madagascar from the SADC regional grouping on Monday and called on its new army-backed president to step down.
The Southern African Development Community said in a communique after a summit in Swaziland that leaders of the group would not recognise Andry Rajoelina, who took power in a move that was condemned as a coup by the international community.
Former Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana, who quit under pressure from the military, briefed SADC leaders on the political crisis.
The SADC stance further isolated Rajoelina, a 34-year-old former disc jockey.
The African Union suspended the Indian Ocean island on March 20 and told the new administration to hold an election within six months as provided for by the constitution.
Rajoelina, who has set a 24-month transition, remains defiant. On Monday, he said auditors hired by his government were reviewing all contracts with foreign investors because the country was receiving too little revenue.
(Additional reporting by Alain Iloniaina in Antananarivo, writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Jon Boyle)