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Burkina Faso coup 'to be reversed' as violent protests continue Burkina Faso coup ‘to be reversed’ as violent protests continue
(35 minutes later)
Burkina Faso will return to civilian rule and an interim government led by president Michel Kafando will be reinstated, reversing a military coup, Benin’s president Thomas Boni Yayi has said. Burkina Faso will return to civilian rule and an interim government led by the president, Michel Kafando, will be reinstated, reversing a military coup, according to Benin’s president, Thomas Boni Yayi.
“We are going to relaunch the transition underway – a transition led by civilians, with Michel Kafando,” he told reporters on Saturday after a meeting with coup leader General Gilbert Diendere in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou. “We are going to relaunch the transition under way – a transition led by civilians, with Michel Kafando,” he said on Saturday after meeting the coup leader, Gen Gilbert Diendéré, in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou.
The announcement followed a third day of unrest as hundreds of protesters burned tyres and erected barricades in the streets of Ouagadougou while mediators sought to reverse a military coup. The announcement followed a third day of unrest as hundreds of protesters burned tyres and erected barricades in the streets of Ouagadougou.
Young people wielding sticks and slingshots dragged railway fences into the streets of Ouagadougou to block soldiers loyal to Diendere, who is facing intense diplomatic pressure over Thursday’s putsch. Young people wielding sticks and slingshots dragged fences into the streets to block soldiers loyal to Diendéré, who was facing intense diplomatic pressure over Thursday’s putsch.
At least 10 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in street clashes with soldiers since the coup condemned by the United States, France (the former colonial power) and the United Nations. Most of the casualties were treated for gunshot wounds. At least 10 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in street clashes with soldiers since the coup condemned by the US, France (the former colonial power) and the UN. Most of the casualties were treated for gunshot wounds.
Unlike on previous days, there was no sign of soldiers from the elite presidential guard in central Ouagadougou, although residents reported sporadic gunfire in the suburbs. Unlike on previous days, there was no sign of soldiers from the presidential guard in central Ouagadougou, although residents reported sporadic gunfire in the suburbs.
In the latest sign that support for Diendere may be collapsing, army chief General Pingrenoma Zagre joined national and international actors in condemning the violence. In the latest sign that support for Diendéré may be collapsing, the army chief, Gen Pingrenoma Zagré, joined national and international actors in condemning the violence.
In an effort to mediate an end to the crisis, Senegalese president Macky Sall met overnight with Diendere, a shadowy general and former spy master. In an effort to mediate an end to the crisis, the Senegalese president, Macky Sall, met Diendéré overnight.
A third round of talks with Diendere and Yayi Boni aimed at returning interim Kafando to power began at 1655 GMT. A third round of talks, between Diendéré and Yayi Boni, began on Saturday.
“We need to create a dynamic of reconciliation and forgiveness and stop the violence,” Sall, who is head of West African regional bloc ECOWAS, told reporters on Saturday. “We need to create a dynamic of reconciliation and forgiveness and stop the violence,” said Sall, who is head of the west African regional bloc Ecowas.
Soldiers from the presidential guard stormed into a cabinet meeting on Wednesday and abducted Kafando and ministers, disrupting a transition period due to end with elections on 11 OctoberSoldiers from the presidential guard stormed into a cabinet meeting on Wednesday and abducted Kafando and ministers, disrupting a transition period due to end with elections on 11 October
Kafando has since been freed and is in his residence, where he met with mediators earlier in the day. Kafando has since been freed and is in his residence, where he met mediators earlier on Saturday.
The coup leaders, calling themselves the National Democratic Council, opposed the interim government’s plans to dissolve the presidential guard and claimed the country faced instability after some candidates were barred from standing in the elections.The coup leaders, calling themselves the National Democratic Council, opposed the interim government’s plans to dissolve the presidential guard and claimed the country faced instability after some candidates were barred from standing in the elections.
On Saturday, Diendere repeated an earlier pledge not to remain in power for long. On Saturday, Diendéré repeated an earlier pledge not to remain in power for long.
Related: Burkina Faso requests aid as floods set to worsenRelated: Burkina Faso requests aid as floods set to worsen
“We simply want a set of proposals that allow us to get to the elections in all peace and serenity while assuring that the results are uncontested and incontestable,” he told France’s TV5MONDE. “We simply want a set of proposals that allow us to get to the elections in all peace and serenity while assuring that the results are uncontested and incontestable,” he told France’s TV5Monde.
The African Union has suspended the West African country’s membership and given leaders 96 hours, until Tuesday, to restore the former government. The African Union has suspended Burkina Faso’s membership and given leaders until Tuesday to restore the former government.
Moumina Cherif Sy, head of Burkina Faso’s national assembly, called on the presidential guard overnight to turn in their weapons or be treated as “deserters and rebels”.
Burkina Faso, whose citizens toppled president Blaise Compaoré last year as he sought to extend his 27-year rule, had been seen as a model by pro-democracy campaigners across sub-Saharan Africa.Burkina Faso, whose citizens toppled president Blaise Compaoré last year as he sought to extend his 27-year rule, had been seen as a model by pro-democracy campaigners across sub-Saharan Africa.
Under Compaoré, Burkina emerged as a regional ally of France and the United States against al Qaeda-linked militants, thought to be active in the north as well as neighbouring Mali. Under Compaoré, Burkina Faso emerged as a regional ally of France and the US against al-Qaida-linked militants, thought to be active in the north as well as neighbouring Mali.
Burkina hosts some 200 special forces as part of France’s Barkhane regional anti-terrorist operation, while Diendere took part in US-sponsored regional counter-terrorism exercises in February. Burkina hosts about 200 special forces as part of France’s Barkhane regional anti-terrorist operation, while Diendéré took part in US-sponsored regional counter-terrorism exercises in February.