By Richard Lough ANTANANARIVO, June 26 (Reuters) - Madagascar's new army-backed government celebrated Independence Day with military pomp on Friday but foreign envoys snubbed the ceremony. The Indian Ocean island, which gained independence from France in 1960, has been diplomatically isolated since Andry Rajoelina, 35, ousted his predecessor from office in March. Witnesses saw none of Madagascar's accredited ambassadors at the ceremony. They had also snubbed Rajoelina's swearing-in in a deliberate show of disapproval. Following a display of military prowess, from armoured cars to frogmen, Rajoelina said in a cocktail-party speech he would strive to reunite the divided country of 20 million people. "When our parents fought for independence, they fought for the entire nation, for the interests of all Malagasy people, and not for the interests of one person, or one grouping or one political party," he said. "We will use all our efforts to set the country on the right path and we will never allow someone to destroy these efforts," he added in what those present took as a reference to former leader Marc Ravalomanana. A French military source said a small explosive device detonated in a dustbin behind the capital's stadium during the military parade. There were no reported injuries, nor confirmation from other sources. Police arrested eight men this week in connection with two attempted bomb attacks in Antananarivo as tension escalated ahead of Independence Day. The government linked those attempted attacks to the opposition. Rajoelina, who has accused Ravalomanana of profiteering from power, said 2009 marked a turning point in Madagascar's history. The former DJ spearheaded weeks of protests early this year, sparking deadly bouts of civil unrest and unnerving foreign investors on the politically volatile island. Madagascar enjoyed sustained economic growth during Ravalomanana's leadership as doors opened to foreign companies looking to exploit oil, gold, cobalt nickel and uranium. But there was anger at the few tangible benefits trickling down to the largely impoverished nation. A Madagascar court this month sentenced Ravalomanana in absentia to four years in jail and fined him $70 million for abuse of office over the purchase of a luxury presidential jet. The world's fourth largest island has suffered a turbulent relationship with its former colonial power during independence. Ravalomanana, now exiled in South Africa, has accused France of supporting Rajoelina's interim government. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has joined African nations and foreign leaders in branding Rajoelina's power grab a coup. The Southern African Development Community has appointed former Mozambican president, Joaquim Chissano, to lead crisis talks between Madagascar's feuding leaders after African Union-led mediations failed.
