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Burkina Faso coup leaders 'free President Kafando' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Burkina Faso's interim President Michel Kafando has been freed and is in good health, the new junta leaders say. | |
However, Prime Minister Isaac Zida, who was also detained when the presidential guard stormed a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, remains under house arrest. | |
The coup leaders have agreed to the "principle of dialogue", as two West African leaders come to mediate. | |
The US, France and the African Union (AU) have condemned the takeover in the former French colony. | The US, France and the African Union (AU) have condemned the takeover in the former French colony. |
At least three people have died in protests after an ally of ex-President Blaise Compaore was named leader. | |
The influential Balai Citoyen civil society group has put the number of people who have died in demonstrations against the presidential guard (RSP) in the capital, Ouagadougou, at 10. | |
An unknown number of protesters have also been detained. | An unknown number of protesters have also been detained. |
Security forces again fired in the air on Friday to disperse to demonstrators who burned tyres and blocked streets in the city, Reuters news agency reports. | |
Elections were due to be held in the West African nation on 11 October, nearly a year after a popular uprising forced Mr Compaore, the long-time ruler of the West African country, from power. | |
According to coup leader Gen Gilbert Diendere, who was Mr Compaore's former chief-of-staff, Mr Kafando is now in his official residence after being freed on Thursday. | |
However, Mr Kafando has not yet been seen in public. | |
Two other ministers, detained with the president and prime minister when a cabinet meeting was stormed by the RSP on Wednesday, have also been released, the coup leaders say. | |
The decision to free them was made "as a sign of easing tensions and in the general interest", a statement read on national television said. | |
The AU and regional body the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), had called for the immediate release of the "hostages". | |
Senegal's President Macky Sall, who is going to mediate along with Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin, said he was heading to Ouagadougou in his role as the current chairman of Ecowas. | Senegal's President Macky Sall, who is going to mediate along with Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin, said he was heading to Ouagadougou in his role as the current chairman of Ecowas. |
Prime Minister Zida was the army officer who took charge after Mr Compaore was ousted. | |
The lieutenant colonel was number two in the presidential guard where he may still hold influence, which explains his continued detention, says BBC Afrique's Lamine Konkobo. | |
Analysis: Thomas Fessy, BBC West Africa correspondent | Analysis: Thomas Fessy, BBC West Africa correspondent |
The elite presidential guard has been trained, in part, by the US. It is the most powerful armed group in Burkina Faso and often disrupted the activities of the transitional government as it tried to cling to the privileges it enjoyed under Mr Compaore's rule. | The elite presidential guard has been trained, in part, by the US. It is the most powerful armed group in Burkina Faso and often disrupted the activities of the transitional government as it tried to cling to the privileges it enjoyed under Mr Compaore's rule. |
It is seen to be close to him, and is not popular on the streets. So its seizure of power could be a recipe for serious violence. | It is seen to be close to him, and is not popular on the streets. So its seizure of power could be a recipe for serious violence. |
The transitional government might have made two mistakes - preventing politicians loyal to Mr Compaore from running in next month's elections and allowing the Reconciliation Commission, formed to heal wounds after the end of his authoritarian rule, to release a report calling for the presidential guard to be disbanded. | The transitional government might have made two mistakes - preventing politicians loyal to Mr Compaore from running in next month's elections and allowing the Reconciliation Commission, formed to heal wounds after the end of his authoritarian rule, to release a report calling for the presidential guard to be disbanded. |
Some argue that a newly elected president would have had greater legitimacy to take such action. | Some argue that a newly elected president would have had greater legitimacy to take such action. |
Mr Compaore is currently in exile and was accused of committing widespread abuses, and trying to change the constitution to extend his term in office. | Mr Compaore is currently in exile and was accused of committing widespread abuses, and trying to change the constitution to extend his term in office. |
Some of his key allies had been barred from contesting the election. | |
Gen Diendere has said he has had no contact with Mr Compaore and will do everything to "avoid violence that could plunge the country into chaos". | |
The BBC's Yacouba Ouedraogo in Ouagadougou says the house belong to the general in Yako, about 100km (60 miles) north-west of the capital, had been set alight. | The BBC's Yacouba Ouedraogo in Ouagadougou says the house belong to the general in Yako, about 100km (60 miles) north-west of the capital, had been set alight. |
An earlier announcement on state television said wide-ranging talks would be held to form a new interim government that would organise "peaceful and inclusive elections". | An earlier announcement on state television said wide-ranging talks would be held to form a new interim government that would organise "peaceful and inclusive elections". |
Transitional parliamentary speaker Cheriff Sy called for people to "immediately rise up" against the coup, and declared himself the leader. | Transitional parliamentary speaker Cheriff Sy called for people to "immediately rise up" against the coup, and declared himself the leader. |
Seven things about Burkina Faso: | Seven things about Burkina Faso: |
The 'heroes' of Burkina Faso's revolution | The 'heroes' of Burkina Faso's revolution |
The rise and fall of Blaise Compaore | The rise and fall of Blaise Compaore |
Guide to Burkina Faso | Guide to Burkina Faso |