Military dissolves transitional govt in Burkina Faso

Less than 24 hours after detaining President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida at a cabinet meeting in the presidential palace, the military has declared a coup in Burkina Faso.

Announcing the new development on national television and radio on Thursday, the military said the transitional government had been dissolved and that it was now in full control of the country.

Burkina Faso was preparing for its elections on October 11 after months of civil unrest as a result of the toppling of Blaise Compaore’s 27 years government.

“A new national democratic council have taken control to end the deviant regime,” said Mamadou Bamba, a lt. colonel, who made the announcement.

He added that wide-ranging talks were being held to form a new interim government that would organise “peaceful and inclusive elections”.

Yacouba Ouedraogo, a BBC reporter, said there is heavy shooting at the main square in Oaugadougou, capital of the country.

Protesters had gathered at the main square to demand the release of the president and prime minister.

Fanny Noaro, a journalist based in Ouagadougou, told Al Jazeera that gunfire could be heard on the streets of the city.

“There is a lot of military on the street […] there is also no information about the transitional president and prime minister and there is no information if they are dead or alive,” she said.

Moumina Cheriff Sy, speaker of the transitional parliament, called the coup “a blow to the republic and its institutions”, calling on “all patriots to gather to defend the motherland”.

Ban ki-Moon, secretary general of the United Nations, has condemned the coup, demanding for the immediate release of the leaders.