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Burkina Faso: Guards detain interim president and PM | Burkina Faso: Guards detain interim president and PM |
(34 minutes later) | |
Interim leaders in Burkina Faso have been detained by guards supporting ousted President Blaise Compaore. | Interim leaders in Burkina Faso have been detained by guards supporting ousted President Blaise Compaore. |
President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida were detained at the presidential palace in the capital, Ouagadougou. | |
It comes two days after a commission recommended the disbanding of the presidential guard (RSP). | |
Shots have been fired near the palace to disperse protesters and there is an air of panic, say reports. | |
There was no word on any casualties. | |
Violent mass protests that included setting parliament on fire forced long-serving Mr Compaore out of office in October 2014. | |
Mr Kafando and Lt Col Zida had been tasked with organising fresh presidential elections next month. | Mr Kafando and Lt Col Zida had been tasked with organising fresh presidential elections next month. |
They and other officials were "taken hostage" by the RSP, the head of the transitional parliament said in a statement. | |
'Serious attack' | 'Serious attack' |
Moumina Cheriff Sy said military chiefs were trying to negotiate the officials' release. | |
"The RSP's countless disruptions are a serious attack on the republic and its institutions," Mr Sy said. | |
"I call on all patriots to gather to defend the motherland," he added. | |
Tensions have been building ahead of the poll scheduled for 11 October. | |
Members of Mr Compaore's party have been declared ineligible. | |
Those who supported the ex-president's bid to amend the constitution so he could seek another term are also banned from running. | |
There has been prolonged friction between the 1,300-strong RSP and Lt Col Zida, a former second-in-command of the group. | |
Then on Monday, a truth and reconciliation commission released a report calling for the disbanding of the unit amid accusations that it opened fire on unarmed protesters during last year's protests. |