ADDIS ABABA (AFP) - Madagascar's disputed leader Andry Rajoelina rejoined crisis talks on Friday after threatening to pull out of a meeting in Addis Ababa amid bickering among the country's main political foes.

Rajoelina, the self-proclaimed president of the Indian Ocean island nation, went back into the talks after several hours of discussions with African Union mediators, who have prolonged the negotiations by a day.

"I had a long discussion with (chief) mediator (Mozambican former president Joaquim) Chissano today. It is very simple. We have a principle. We have to respect the accords reached on October 6 in Madagascar," he said.

On that date, Rajoelina agreed to accept Eugene Mangalaza, who is close to former president Didier Ratsiraka, as prime minister, in place of his own ally Monja Roindefo.

Roindefo protested strongly at being dismissed, but Rajoelina contended, as he said of his return to the talks, that "it is in the higher interests of the nation."

On Friday, he told AFP that he had "made many concessions," including the loss of Roindefo as government chief.

He had threatened to leave the talks when other participants baulked at his staying in office, after he ousted President Marc Ravolomanana following weeks of large-scale protest demonstrations in March.

Late Thursday he walked out of a meeting at the headquarters of the African Union (AU), which is mediating in the talks, saying: "If they don't want me as president they're the ones who are to blame" for the talks stalling.

Madagascar's top four political players began discussions Tuesday in a fresh attempt to resolve the country's political crisis.

Rajoelina, a 35-year-old former disc jockey, toppled Ravalomanana with the army's backing on March 17 but has since failed to win the recognition of the international community.

The coup came after months of sometimes violent demonstrations which left the island in diplomatic and institutional limbo, with parallel administrations each claiming legitimacy.

Rajoelina, Ravalomanana and two other former presidents, Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy, agreed in August to a 15-month transition period but have since sparred over the details of power-sharing.