SOLDIERS DETAIN BURKINA FASO’S PRESIDENT IN OFFICE

President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida have been detained at the presidential palace in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso. Achille Tapsoba, a source in the president’s office, told the Associated Press that the soldiers showed up late Wednesday and prevented both men from leaving.

Guards believed to be loyal to former president, Blaise Compaore, who was toppled last year, are believed to be responsible for the detention of the interim leaders. Burkina Faso is supposed to have elections next month and members of Compaore’s party have been declared ineligible, leading to tensions in the country.

A source told BBC that military chiefs were trying to negotiate the release of the detained leaders. There has been prolonged friction between the 1,300-strong RSP and Zida, a former second-in-command of the group. The incident is coming two days after a commission recommended the disbanding of the presidential guard.

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