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Troops in Burkina Faso Appear Poised to Retake Presidential Palace Troops in Burkina Faso Appear Poised for Showdown With Coup Plotters
(about 3 hours later)
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Soldiers took up positions outside the presidential palace in Burkina Faso on Tuesday afternoon in what appeared to be a showdown with members of the elite military unit that staged a failed coup here 13 days ago. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — Soldiers took up positions outside the presidential palace and other buildings in Burkina Faso Tuesday afternoon, in what appeared to be a showdown with members of the elite military unit that staged a failed coup here 13 days ago.
Tanks and other armored vehicles took up position outside the palace, while around Ouagadougou, the capital, soldiers were seen near the airport, the radio and television stations, and other sensitive spots. Tanks and other armored vehicles took up positions outside the palace and around the barracks of the unit involved in the coup. Soldiers were also seen near the airport, radio and television stations and other key locations in Ouagadougou, the capital.
The country’s transitional government, which was restored last week after a mediation effort by West African leaders but has not fully reasserted its control over Ouagadougou, told residents to stay away from the neighborhood, known as Ouaga 2000, that surrounds the palace. Sporadic gunfire was heard in the city, and The Associated Press, citing an army spokesman, reported that troops had fired artillery shells at the barracks. The army also arrested a former foreign minister who was accused of collaborating with the coup plotters.
The government said it had taken steps “to guarantee its security, to pursue the process of disarming the former R.S.P., and to achieve the surrender of the die-hards entrenched in Camp Naaba Koom,” the headquarters of the Presidential Security Regiment. The unit, known by its French initials, R.S.P., is considered to be loyal to its founder, former President Blaise Compaoré, who was toppled by a mass uprising last October after 27 years in power. The country’s transitional government told residents to stay away from the palace and the surrounding neighborhood, known as Ouaga 2000. The coup leaders handed power back to the transitional government last week after a mediation effort by West African leaders, but the government has not yet retaken full control of Ouagadougou.
The unit that mounted the coup is the Presidential Security Regiment, known by its French initials, R.S.P. The government said on Tuesday that it had taken steps “to guarantee its security, to pursue the process of disarming the former R.S.P., and to achieve the surrender of the die-hards entrenched in Camp Naaba Koom,” the unit’s headquarters. The regiment is considered to be loyal to Blaise Compaoré, the former president, who was toppled by a mass uprising last October after 27 years in power.
Officers of the regiment seized the palace on the night of Sept. 16 and detained the interim president, Michel Kafando, and prime minister, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida. The two men have been released, and were formally reinstated last Wednesday after a diplomatic intervention by the presidents of Senegal and Benin, along with other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States.Officers of the regiment seized the palace on the night of Sept. 16 and detained the interim president, Michel Kafando, and prime minister, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida. The two men have been released, and were formally reinstated last Wednesday after a diplomatic intervention by the presidents of Senegal and Benin, along with other leaders of the Economic Community of West African States.
The government officially disbanded the regiment on Friday, and on Saturday, the authorities moved to seize the assets of the coup’s leader, Gen. Gilbert Diendéré, who is a former chief of staff to Mr. Compaoré, along with 13 other people associated with the former president. One of those associates, Djibril Bassolé, a former foreign minister, was arrested on Tuesday. The government officially disbanded the regiment on Friday. The next day, the authorities moved to seize the assets of the coup’s leader, Gen. Gilbert Diendéré, and 13 other people associated with Mr. Compaoré, including Djibril Bassolé, the former foreign minister who was arrested on Tuesday.
General Diendéré and most members of the regiment have not turned in their weapons, and the government declared the situation to be at an impasse on Monday. General Diendéré and most members of the regiment have not surrendered their weapons, and the government said on Monday that the situation was at an impasse.