The party of Marc Ravalomanana has decided to suspend its role in Madagascar’s unity government, after a plane carrying the exiled leader home was turned away, a top official said yesterday.

“The Ravalomanana Movement has decided that its members of institutions, government and parliament will suspend their participation,” said Hanitra Razafimanantsoa.

“Starting from now, the ministers will no longer participate in the Council of Ministers, and the parliamentarians will not participate in the next session, which starts Monday.”

“Nothing but the return of President Ravalomanana will satisfy his supporters,” she said.

The main parties on the Indian Ocean island formed a power-sharing government in November, with strongman Andry Rajoelina remaining president until new elections are held, in theory later this year.

The government was formed under a ‘roadmap’ that allowed for the return of exiled politicians.

But after Ravalomanana took off on a commercial flight from South Africa to return home and end his three-year exile, Madagascar closed its airspace and forced the plane to return to Johannesburg, where he has been living in exile.