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Burkina Faso coup leader Gen Diendere 'held' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Gen Gilbert Diendere - the leader of last month's short-lived coup in Burkina Faso - is in the custody of the country's security forces, sources say. | |
Some reports suggest he earlier surrendered at an unnamed diplomatic mission in the capital Ouagadougou. | |
Interim President Michel Kafando was reinstated last week after intervention from the army and West African leaders. | |
The presidential guards' unit that carried out the coup is to be disbanded. | |
"He [Gen Diendere] has been handed over to Burkinabe authorities," a judicial source was quoted as saying by Reuters. | |
The general had earlier taken refuge at the residence of the Vatican's representative in Burkina Faso, reports say. | |
Details of his reported surrender are still unclear. | |
The financial assets of Gen Diendere and another 13 people suspected of involvement in the coup were frozen last week. | |
Separately, the first full meeting of the government since Mr Kafando's reinstatement decided to disband the presidential guard (RSP) and to dismiss the minister in charge of security. | |
The RSP - a unit of 1,200 well-armed and well-trained men - is loyal to Blaise Compaore, the country's long-time ruler who was ousted in a popular uprising last year. They were unhappy about being integrated into the regular army. | |
Members of the unit stormed the cabinet room on 16 September, seizing Mr Kafando, the prime minister and others. | |
A week later, when it became clear they did not enjoy popular support and after a threat from the regular army to step down or be ousted by force, the RSP withdrew from the capital. | |
An emergency meeting of the regional bloc Ecowas also helped to bring a smooth end to the crisis. | |
At least 10 people were killed and more than 100 injured in clashes during the takeover, which Gen Diendere later described as "the biggest mistake". |