Istana guards ousted LHL KFC Tony also hostaged

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http://news.yahoo.com/burkina-faso-president-pm-held-presidential-guard-security-175433207.html


Burkina Faso coup leader vows president, PM 'will be released'
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AFP 15 hours ago
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Paris (AFP) - The leader of a coup d'etat in Burkina Faso told a French magazine Thursday that the interim president and prime minister who have been arrested were in good health and would be released.

Speaking to the Jeune Afrique weekly, General Gilbert Diendere said the coup was launched by the presidential guard because of the "serious pre-election security situation" as the west African nation prepares for its first polls since longtime leader Blaise Compaore was overthrown last year.

Diendere, Compaore's former chief-of-staff, said that acting president Michel Kafando and his prime minister Isaac Zida had been put under house arrest.

"They are doing well and will be released," he said.

Compaore fled into exile in Ivory Coast following a popular uprising in October 2014 after he tried to extend his 27-year rule.

A transitional government had been charged with running the nation until presidential and legislative elections on October 11.

Compaore supporters had been banned from running under a controversial law passed in April that made anyone backing "unconstitutional change" ineligible to run.

Diendere said he had taken action as a result of "the exclusion measures taken by transitional authorities" and to "prevent the destabilisation of the country."

He said elections would be held later, without saying when.

 

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President n PM held hostage.

Curfew ordered. Border and airport ordered closed.

 

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http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/world/burk...r-denies-connection-to-ex-president-1.3231771




Burkina Faso military seizes power, denies connection to ex-president
Less than month before elections, former right-hand man to ex-president leads junta
UPDATED11:45 AM ET
Thomson Reuters
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Former president Blaise Compaore has no links to a coup in Burkina Faso, junta leader General Gilbert Diendere said on Thursday, suggesting the military acted due to the interim government's handling of the country and election process.

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Diendere, who for three decades served as Compaore's chief military adviser and operated an intelligence network spanning West Africa, said he did not want to keep power and would hand it back to civilian rule when conditions were in place to do so.

"I've had no contact with him (Compaore) either before or after. I haven't called him and he hasn't called me," Diendere told France 24 television.


Protesters chant slogans against the presidential guard in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Wednesday. Soldiers fired warning shots outside Burkina Faso's presidential palace on Wednesday as hundreds of people gathered to protest the detention of government leaders inside. (Joe Penney/Reuters)
Elections were due to be held on Oct. 11 to conclude a transition back to democratic rule after Compaore was toppled by popular protests in October when he tried to extend his 27-year rule.

Diendere said he would need to speak to political parties and the international community in the coming hours to see how to proceed.

"All change of this type can lead to violence. I am conscious of that," he said. "Everything will be done to avoid violence that could plunge the country into chaos."

Diendere promised to release the interim president and prime minister, who were arrested by presidential guard soldiers on Wednesday. He said the coup had the full backing of the regular army and he pledged not to interfere in legal cases against Compaore and former members of his entourage.


A man holds bullet cases he said were shot by the presidential guard in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Thursday. (Joe Penney/Reuters)
"I call on the people to remain calm so that we can continue on the path to inclusive and democratic elections," he said.

"We know a coup is never accepted by the international community, but we ask it to understand the purpose of our action," he said. "We are committed to dialogue and accept certain principles of the international community."

Diendere said he did not want the country to be under military rule.

"We are not here to stay in power. As soon as conditions are there we will hand power back to (civilians). I have never done politics, I'm military. We're experiencing a special situation, but I don't do politics."

© Thomson Reuters, 2015