Release of interim president pledged in Burkina Faso coup

General Gilbert Diendere promised to release interim President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Colonel Isaac Zida, 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 ex-President Blaise Compaore and former members of his entourage.

"I call on the people to remain calm so that we can continue on the path to inclusive and democratic elections," he said.

Diendere served for three decades served as Compaore's chief military adviser and head of the presidential guard.

Members of the presidential guard seized power from the transitional government less than a month before elections slated for October 11.

The elections were called to select a new president following the ousting of Compaore last year. General Diendere insists that the former president has had no hand in the coup.

"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.

Diendere said he would need to speak to political parties and the international community in the coming hours to see how to proceed. He said no date had been set for new elections but pledged that the military council would hand power back to civilians "when the conditions are in place."

"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."

International condemnation

The international community swiftly condemned the coup. There was a sharp response from Washington.

"The United States strongly condemns any attempt to seize power through extra-constitutional means or resolve internal political disagreements using force," said a statement issued by US State Department spokesman John Kirby.

French President Francois Hollande condemned the coup but said he saw "no reason" for French troops based in Burkina Faso to intervene.

"I strongly condemn this coup d'etat because an electoral process was under way and the dates had been fixed," Hollande told reporters.

"I call on these groups to immediately stop what they are doing," Hollande said.

Amnest International also condemned the coup calling for the immediate release of all persons detained and the opening of radio stations closed by the presidential guard.

"The situation in Burkina Faso is deeply worrying," said Gaetan Mootoo, Amnesty International’s West Africa Researcher.

Violence continues

At least three people were killed when the presidential guard opened fire with live ammunition to disperse crowds protesting the coup, witnesses said. Up to 60 people were sustained injuries including gunshot wounds according to a worker at the main hospital in the capital, Ouagadougou.

Burkina Faso's land and air frontiers have been closed and a curfew imposed from 7pm to 6am (1900 to 0600 UTC). Protests were staged in several areas of the capital amid a heavy military presence.

Political parties together with trade unions, civil society and human rights groups that had opposed Compaore called for a campaign of civil disobedience .

The next step

"The underlying reasons [for the coup] are complex and there are a number of interests behind this. It remains to be seen which other political actors are behind this coup," Imad Mesdoua a political analyst with Africa Matters told DW.

He added that tensions between the presidential guard and the transitional governments have been growing for some time. They escalated further after the release of a report stating that the presidential guard should be disbanded.

" For them to be disbanded was the tipping point that pushed them towards action and this coup," he said.

Mesdoua is skeptical about the prospects for any immedia return to democratic governance.

“It is really difficult to see how elections can take place in this current environment,” he said.