Two other ministers detained with the president and prime minister are also said to have been released but Zida remains under house arrest.
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The African Union suspended Burkina Faso Friday from the regional bloc and demanded that the military junta hand power back to a transitional government.
The Chairman of the National Transitional Committee in Burkina Faso, Salif Sy on Thursday described the act of the Presidential Security Regiment as a “coup”, adding that a “ratio of power” has been installed in his country and therefore all the Burkinabe should mobilize accordingly.
At least three people have been killed and 60 injured during street clashes in Burkina Faso’s capital as protesters demonstrated against a military coup, a senior source in the main hospital has said. The former United Nations ambassador had been chosen to lead the political transition after Compaore’s resignation until elections could be held.
Brigadier General Gilbert Diendere spoke to VOA’s French to Africa Service Thursday, a day after soldiers overthrew the West African country’s transitional government and arrested its leaders.
Gen Diendere said he had met members of the global community to establish dialogue and seek a long-term solution to the country’s political crisis.
The council made a statement broadcast on national TV saying that it agreed to free Kafando and the other ministers after a meeting with representatives of the African Union (AU), UN, EU and U.S. occurred on 17th September, according to the country’s radio Omega.
However, the fate of the Interim Prime Minister Lt Col Yacouba Isaac Zida is not known.
The 1,300-strong presidential guard has been known for its loyalty to Compaore whose supporters have been banned from contesting the elections set for October 11.
“Nigeria will give the fullest possible support to ongoing efforts by the ECOWAS mediatory team of President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic to quickly restore Burkina Faso to the path of order, democracy and constitutionalism”. Compaore is now in exile and was accused of committing widespread abuses, and trying to change the constitution to extend his term in office.
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Ahead of their arrival, the air and land borders were officially re-opened.
