African-backed Comoros forces take rebel island

"I think it is very unfortunate that the military action has taken place because it takes the Comoros back to this history of force instead of resolving matters peacefully," President Thabo Mbeki told reporters in Pretoria.

Comoros' federal government accuses Bacar of secessionist aspirations, although he maintains he is fighting for more autonomy rather than independence.

A statement said Comoros President Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi, an Islamist businessman and native of Anjouan, was committed to holding new Anjouan elections as soon as possible.

Many Anjouan inhabitants accuse Bacar of ruling through the threat of violence and repressing any dissent.

The Comoros islands -- which grow vanilla, cloves and ylang-ylang, a flower whose oils are used in aromatherapy -- were first settled by Arab seafarers 1,000 years ago, then later became a pirate haven.

After suffering some 20 coups or coup attempts since independence, Comoros is trying to shrug off a history of instability.

(Additional reporting by Ed Harris in Mauritius, Katie Nguyen in Nairobi, Paul Simao in Pretoria; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne and Katie Nguyen; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)