Alastair Leithead BBC correspondent in South Africa

The African Union (AU) has delayed a decision on whether Madagascar should join the organisation, after a meeting between President Marc Ravalomanana and an AU troika in South Africa.

Defeated Ratsiraka fled to France

The Indian Ocean island was suspended from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and then barred from the AU at its inauguration in July.

This followed a decision by the AU that the transfer of power from Didier Ratsiraka to Marc Ravalomanana was unconstitutional.

The AU is the only organisation not to recognise him as president.

Bloody stand-off

Current AU chairman, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, led the talks with Mr Ravalomanana, invited to Pretoria as Mr Ravalomanana and not as President.

	OAU Founded: 1963 Achievements: Helped end white rule Failed to: Raise living standards; Ensure good governance AU Founded: 2002 Aims: Attract foreign investment; Spread democracy New features: Peacekeeping force; Central bank; Court of justice; Single currency People power for Africa?

The talks focused on that very point, whether the AU would finally recognise Mr Ravalomanana as president and admit Madagascar to the fledgling organisation.

The UN has accepted the result of an election re-count which handed Mr Ravalomanana the presidency over Mr Ratsiraka, who later fled to exile in France.

After a long stand-off between the two rivals and clashes between their separate factions of the military, the United States and then the former colonial power France accepted the new result in July.

But the OAU suspended Madagascar and then - when the AU was inaugurated in the same month - the island was excluded as it was decided the transfer of power was not constitutional.

More talks planned

Prime Minister Pascal Mocumbi of Mozambique, which will hold the AU presidency next, and President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia, the last chairman of the OAU, made up the troika with Mr Mbeki at the South African Union Buildings.

The talks centred on a review of the current domestic political situation in Madagascar, with a view to admitting the country into the AU.

However, it was decided that before a decision could be made talks would have to be held with the Arema Party, the party of Mr Ratsiraka.

It is now angling itself as an opposition party for the legislative elections due to take place in December.

It was decided a delegation would meet Arema before the AU extraordinary summit planned for the end of January.

The decision on Madagascar's future in the AU will not now be made until then.