General says former president Compaore not linked to coup

Ben Bassey 16:00 - 17 September 2015

Burkina general says former president Compaore not linked to coup

"All change of this type can lead to violence. I am conscious of that ... everything will be done to avoid violence that could plunge the country into chaos," Diendere said on France 24 television.

The leader of a coup in Burkina Faso said on Thursday he had no contact with former president Blaise Compaore, but that the way the interim government had been running the country and preparing elections had forced the presidential guard to act.

Gilbert Diendere, a general in the guard and deemed close to Compaore, said there had been "no contact" with him and he had not spoken to him since the coup.

Elections were due to be held on October 11, but Diendere said he would now need to speak to political parties and the international community to see how to proceed.