Burkina Faso new leader says October election too soon

A military official said on state-run media in Ouagadougou that they had put in place a national democracy council charged with organising democratic and inclusive elections.

Kafando was appointed interim president in Burkina Faso’s transitional government in October, after then-President Compaore was forced to resign amid massive demonstrations calling for an end to his 27-year rule.

Angry residents erected barricades in other towns and cities after presidential guard members loyal to Compaore burst into a cabinet meeting on Wednesday and seized acting President Michel Kafando, Prime Minister Isaac Zida, and two ministers.

The transitional government of Burkina Faso was dissolved on Thursday after a coup d’etat led by the country’s Regiment of Presidential Security one month ahead of general elections.

Lt Col Mamadou Bamba announced on television that the coup leaders identified themselves as the National Council for Democracy.

The coup leaders have imposed a night-time curfew across the West African state, and have ordered the closure of land and air borders, AFP news agency reports.

The office of France’s president Francois Hollande said the president strongly condemned the coup d’état and called for the immediate liberation of all who are arrested and for the authorities who were ruling the country to be reinstalled.

Hundreds of demonstrators marched to the presidential palace in protest against the detention.

The military spokesman said the leaders of the coup were seeking negotiations “to form a government which will dedicate itself to restore political order in the country” before elections were held.

Officers in the military overthrew the Burkina Faso government on Thursday plunging the country in West Africa into chaos.

-Shortly after, incidents of gunfire was reported on the streets of Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso.

Worldwide condemnation was swift, with the United Nations and the African Union demanding their immediate release.

The powerful presidential guard has repeatedly meddled in politics since Compaore was toppled in a popular uprising in October past year.