The African Union has suspended Madagascar, after the Indian Ocean island's military appointed a young opposition leader as president earlier this week.
The AU peace and security council chairman, Burkina Faso's Ambassador Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba, said that in their opinion what occurred in Madagascar entered the definition of unconstitutional change of government.
Yesterday, the EU called the takeover a coup d'etat and Washington called it undemocratic.
The Southern African Development Community's security troika will urge its members to impose sanctions on Madagascar when they meet later this month.
At the end of a mini-summit in Swaziland yesterday the troika declared it did not recognise the new Malagasy leader.
Andry Rajoelina was confirmed as President in the capital, Antananarivo, after his predecessor Marc Ravalomanana resigned under pressure from street protests and a threat by army chiefs that they would back the opposition.
Mr Rajoelina suspended parliament yesterday.
