By Richard Lough
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar's new president, Andry Rajoelina, celebrated and consolidated power on Wednesday after being appointed by the Indian Ocean island's military in a move which drew international disapproval.
Rajoelina, a 34-year-old former disc jockey who is now the youngest and newest president in Africa, partied with supporters in the street after meeting his ministers to plan strategy.
His priorities are anti-poverty programmes expected by locals, handling international concern at his ascent to power and controlling some dissent in the armed forces.
"We will bring about the return to a normal life, to security and above all national reconciliation, which is at the heart of democracy," he told several thousand supporters celebrating in the capital Antananarivo's May 13 square.
In a boost to Rajoelina's legitimacy, Madagascar's Constitutional Court issued a statement endorsing the takeover.
He is to be formally sworn in on Saturday.
President Marc Ravalomanana, 59, resigned on Tuesday after most of the military backed his rival, who had led weeks of anti-government strikes and protests.
The unrest killed at least 135 people, devastated the $390 million-a-year (274 million pound) tourism sector and worried multinationals with investments in the mining and oil industries.
The outcome was also a slap in the face for the African Union (AU), which has censured recent violent transfers of power that have damaged the continent's reputation with investors.
Nervous of more turmoil, the U.S. embassy ordered non-essential staff and their families to leave Madagascar.
Experts said Western donors' disquiet at the manner of Rajoelina's rise would probably be short-term.
"With so many people below the poverty line I can't see the international community abandoning Madagascar in the long run, and (Rajoelina) knows this," Lydie Boka, of Paris-based risk group StrategiCo, told Reuters.
While the military was crucial in installing the opposition leader, analysts say he also has the backing of exiled former president Didier Ratsiraka and his allies. Some analysts said former colonial ruler France gave him tacit support too.
Ravalomanana's whereabouts were unclear. The opposition had accused him of corruption and of losing touch with the majority of the population who live on less than $2 a day.
Some of his ministers were prevented from leaving the country until the matter of money missing from central bank was settled, Rajoelina told reporters.
There was a heavy military presence at the palace where Ravalomanana capitulated. A Reuters TV witness saw broken windows and furniture, as well as a crowbar lodged in the door of a safe. It was not clear whether departing presidential guards, the army or the public had ransacked the building.
FRENCH CONCERN
Rajoelina -- who is six years too young to be president under the constitution -- now heads a transitional government which has pledged to hold a poll within two years on the island of 20 million off Africa's southeastern coast.
Pierrot Rajaonarivelo, a former deputy premier and close ally of the exiled Ratsiraka, said that was much too long.
"Why and for what reason is he taking 24 months as his starting point?" Rajaonarivelo told Reuters in Paris. "I'm among the people behind him (Rajoelina) but I think as far as his approach is concerned, there's a bit of amateurism there."
France echoed that concern.
"The waiting period of 24 months that has been announced for the organisation of new elections is too long. In this type of exceptional situation, the international community wishes to see that democracy can be expressed as rapidly as possible," the Foreign Ministry said, adding that aid flows would continue.
The AU had demanded the constitution be respected scrupulously. But the fact the army refused to take over on Tuesday, as Ravalomanana had requested, means the AU may not brand it a coup, which would have meant suspending Madagascar.
"The fact the president let go of power offers the international community a legal footing (for relations with the new government) if it is looking for one," local constitutional law expert Jean-Erik Rakotoarisoa told Reuters.
South Africa and Zambia have denounced the change of power.
"(Zambia) calls for the immediate suspension of the membership of Madagascar in SADC and the African Union for the return to constitutional order within the shortest possible period," Foreign Minister Kabinga Pande said.
The SADC regional bloc is scheduled to meet in Swaziland on Thursday to discuss how to handle the situation.