Maputo - Madagascar's interim leader Andry Rajoelina and three former presidents began crucial talks Wednesday in Mozambique's capital Maputo on how to end their country's months-long political crisis.

The talks, chaired by former Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the regional political bloc, represent a breakthrough in months of stop- start negotiations.

Rajoelina, his exiled arch-rival Marc Ravalomanana, whom he ousted from power in March and ex-dictator Didier Ratsiraka and ex-president Albert Zafy represent the main political movements in Madagascar.

The vast, impoverished Indian Ocean island has been wracked by turmoil since January, when the then opposition began a campaign of street protests that culminated in Ravalomanana's ouster two months later.

Both SADC and the African Union have suspended Madagascar from their ranks over the change of power, calling Rajoelina's military- backed rout of the democratically
-elected Ravalomanana akin to a coup.

The broader international community has also refused to recognize Rajoelina as interim president. Ravalomanana, who is in exile in South Africa and Swaziland, still calls himself president.

The Maputo meeting is aimed at forging consensus between the various parties on how to move beyond the impasse.

"This meeting is for them (the leaders) to agree with each other on the possible transition period that will culminate with the restoration of constitutional order," SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salamao said on the eve of the meeting.

Rajoelina has said he is open to a negotiated solution but has so far refused to allow Ravalomanana, who was convicted in absentia of abuse of office and sentenced to four years in prison, return to the island.

Ratsiraka, who ruled the country for most of the period between 1975 and 2001, is also in exile and seeking to return home. He fled to France in 2002 after losing out to Ravalomanana in a bitter power struggle following disputed elections. Ravalomanana governed from 2002 until March.

Zafy was president from 1993 to 1996 and still lives in Madagascar.(dpa)