Antananarivo- The opposition in Madagascar was preparing to return to the streets Thursday following the breakdown in talks between President Marc Ravalomanana and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina on the island's month-long political crisis.

Rajoelina, the sacked mayor of the capital Antananarivo, announced Wednesday he was breaking off the talks after Ravalomanana ducked a meeting with him in order to meet with representatives of the military in two regional towns.

The two men had held three days of church-brokered talks since Saturday on their standoff, which has cost over 100 lives during four weeks of mass opposition demonstrations, but the rivals were said to have made little progress.

The chairman of the Christian Churches Council also said he would no longer act as facilitator after being repeatedly accused of being partisan.

Rajoelina, who accuses Ravalomanana of authoritarianism and misspending public funds, has called for renewed street action to force his demands for an interim government that he proposes to lead.

The 34-year-old former DJ has asked his supporters to join him Thursday in trying to eject Ravalomanana's choice for interim mayor from office and install his candidate, Michele Ratsivalaka.

Last week, unarmed opposition supporters took over four ministry buildings but were later ejected by the army.

The tactics employed by the opposition to try to force Ravalomanana from office are inspired by the president's own months- long, campaign of demonstrations and strikes in 2002 that ultimately ousted dictator Didier Ratsiraka.

Ravalomanana is, however, refusing to step down, saying he is the country's rightful leader since being re-elected to a second five- year term in 2006. (dpa)