* Says election will be held before April 2010 * Former leader says Rajoelina must not stand * Proposed new prime minister arrives from Paris By Alain Iloniaina ANTANANARIVO, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Madagascar's new leader Andry Rajoelina publicly endorsed a deal on top posts in a power-sharing government which would see him keep the presidency that he seized in a March coup. But Rajoelina said late on Friday that he planned to hold a presidential election before April 2010, which the overthrown former president has demanded that he must not contest. Rival political parties reached the agreement in principle on Tuesday at talks aiming to restore order after nine months of turmoil on an island which is increasingly drawing the attention of foreign energy and mining firms. "The objective is to hold elections before April so we have a new president ... by (Independence Day) June 26," Rajoelina said in a television interview. "Each individual wants to protect what is his. Certain people within the transition want to keep their seats. But the population equally wants peace, food and jobs," he said. "I will soon formally nominate the new vice president and prime minister," he added, referring to Tuesday's agreement. Rajoelina, who at 35 is Africa's youngest leader, has been under intense pressure from aid donors to dismiss Prime Minister Monja Roindefo, described by analysts as a heavyweight backer of his power-grab. Tuesday's internationally-brokered agreement, under which social anthropology professor Eugene Mangalaza was named as the next prime minister, is far from a done deal. The negotiating team for Madagascar's ousted former president, Marc Ravalomanana, said it had signed up to the proposal only on condition that Rajoelina did not offer himself as a candidate at the next presidential ballot. Without that reassurance, Ravalomanana has told supporters, he will not formally sign the power-sharing agreement. In an open letter on Friday to the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, the former leader reiterated that his side had "always rejected the appointment of a coup plotter to lead the country". Mangalaza, the man picked this week to be the next premier, is a relative unknown. He is close to another former president, Didier Ratsiraka, but is considered politically neutral. He arrived from Paris on Saturday, and the presence of the French and U.S. ambassadors at Antananarivo's main airport appeared to signal their willingness to engage an administration with him as prime minister. Mangalaza acknowledged the scale of the task that lay before him -- if he is confirmed in his new position. "Wish me luck," he told reporters. (Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
