Maputo - Madagascar's rival leaders have agreed to form a unity government in a deal that includes amnesty for ousted president Marc Ravalomanana, who will not partake in the transition, officials said Sunday.

The agreement came after four days of internationally mediated talks on the political crisis in the Indian Ocean island, held in the Mozambican capital Maputo.

The new administration will govern Madagascar until general and presidential elections in under 15 months time, the United Nations special envoy to the negotiations, Tiebile Drame said.

The deal is aimed at ending Madagascar's international isolation, which began in March when then opposition leader Andry Rajoelina forced Ravalomanana from office through weeks of demonstrations that won backing from a mutinous military.

Over 100 people were killed in the unrest, which began with the opposition accusing Ravalomanana, in power since 2002, of authoritarianism and misuse of state funds.

Rajoelina was named interim president after Ravalomanana gave up power and went into exile but the international community dismissed his power grab as a quasi-coup and slashed aid to the island.

The peace accord signed by Rajoelina, Ravalomanana and two other former presidents around midnight Saturday in Mozambique's capital Maputo is a coup for international mediators led by former Mozambique president Joaquim Chissano.

Chissano was mandated by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to mediate.

The key hurdle in the talks was cleared when Rajoelina agreed to amnesty for Ravalomanana, who faced four years in jail for abuse of office if he returned to the island after being sentenced in absentia.

In return, Ravalomanana agreed to be excluded from the transitional government.

"In the interests of the nation, and following consultations, it seems reasonable to me to not participate personally in the transition," he was quoted by the BBC as saying.

The deal also includes amnesty for ex-dictator Didier Ratsiraka, whom Ravalomanana succeeded following disputed elections in 2001. He had faced 10 years of hard labour and five years in jail after being convicted of misuse of public funds and threatening state security.(dpa)