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Burkina Faso coup leader in police custody: Sources

Friday, 02 October 2015 5:37 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 02 October 2015 5:37 AM ]

This December 10, 2011 photo shows General Gilbert Diendere in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou. (Photo by AFP)

The leader of Burkina Faso’s recent short-lived coup is now in police custody, sources in the West African country say.

Sources in Burkina Faso’s interim government said Thursday that General Gilbert Diendere, who staged a week-long coup last month, has been handed over to police officials in the main gendarmerie camp in the capital, Ouagadougou.

“General Diendere and his accomplices will answer for all the offences of which they are accused,” the government said in a statement, adding that officials in the Vatican embassy where Diendere had sought refuge after the coup have been provided with guarantees on his life.

Diendere and his followers in the presidential guard (RSP) declared a coup on September 17 one day after they arrested interim President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida. They claimed that the interim government had been trying to exclude members of the RSP, who are known to be loyal to ousted President Blaise Compaore, from running in the elections.

The votes were originally scheduled for October 11, but were later delayed due to violence triggered by the coup. At least 11 people were killed and 271 were reported injured in protests that followed the coup by Diendere and his followers.

Demonstrators shout slogans in Ouagadougou during a protest against a proposed peace deal in the wake of a coup in Burkina Faso, September 21, 2015. (Photo by AFP)

Continued defiance

Under heavy international pressure, the coup plotters backed down and the interim government returned to power. A peace deal also guaranteed the safety of the coup leaders and their families.

Clashes continued over the past days with some members of the RSP refusing to hand over their arms, despite a plea by Diendere to avoid bloodshed.

Six officers who took part in the putsch were also arrested on Wednesday.

Officials also said that more than 800 member of the of the RSP’s 1,300-strong force had joined loyalist units after their regiment was disbanded. The entire RSP itself is to be scrapped.

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