Prime Minister Camille Vital was Thursday promoted general, 24 hours after he dismissed Noel Rakotonandrasana and took over the ministry, citing "rumours surrounding the army, which triggered fears about state governance".

Senior military officers who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said the sacked minister had intended to lead a junta to steer the Indian Ocean island out of the crisis prevailing there since the March 2009 coup that brought Andry Rajoelina to power.

"About two weeks ago, general Rakotonandrasana suggested he head a military administration, but he was not really supported," said a top officer.

"He was inspired by the (coup) in Niger and encouraged by foreign powers," he added, without saying who the foreign forces were.

The military in Niger on February 18 overthrew president Mamadou Tandja, set up an interim institution and promised a quick return to civilian rule.

Efforts to resolve Madagascar's political crisis have been scuttled by Rajoelina, who has rejected power-sharing agreements with his political rivals brokered by international mediators.

His intransigence prompted the African Union to impose travel and economic sanctions against him and scores of his backers last month.

Faced with the prolonged impasse, Madagascar's army has been divided on how to handle the crisis that it helped create when it backed Rajoelina, who led weeks of street protests and ousted president Marc Ravalomanana.

"We do not want power. We would not have the resources to run a country now that the coffers are empty," said another officer, adding that leadership divisions in the army would be a further obstacle.

"That's another reason why Vital took charge of the armed forces ministry. He does not want to give the impression that he favours one side over the other," the officer explained.

Rakotonandrasana had been pivotal in both Rajoelina's power grab as well as Ravalomanana's ascent to leadership following months of disputed presidential elections.

However, other observers have described Rakotonandrasana as an opportunist who commanded little loyalty from junior officers. Many of the troops prefer to heed the chief of general staff Andre Andriarijaona, they said.

"It is up to the (army chief) to take things in hand now; he needs to reunite everyone," the officer said.

Several sources said that the army is working on a civil plan to lift Madagascar out of its current political impasse.

"We're going to draw up a roadmap with precise directives, sharing out the different positions and we will impose that on the politicians," the officer said.

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