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Troops in Burkina Faso Appear Poised for Showdown With Coup Plotters Troops in Burkina Faso Appear Poised for Showdown With Coup Plotters
(35 minutes later)
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.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 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. Tanks and other armored vehicles took up positions outside the palace and around the barracks of the unit involved in the coup, the Presidential Security Regiment. Soldiers were also seen near the airport, radio and television stations and other crucial locations in Ouagadougou, the capital.
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.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 leader of the failed coup, Gen. Gilbert Diendéré, called on the regiment to lay down its weapons and stop resisting the army’s efforts to disarm and disband the unit. In an interview with Radio Omega, General Diendéré, who was not at the barracks, said his command of the regiment “has become a bit difficult” and that “there are some troops who are out of control.”
Agence France-Presse later quoted the general as saying by telephone that the showdown at the barracks had ended and that he was ready to put himself “at the disposal of my country’s judiciary.”
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 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. Referring to the coup regiment by its French initials, 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. 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. The government officially disbanded the regiment on Friday. The next day, the authorities moved to seize the assets General 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 surrendered their weapons, and the government said on Monday that the situation was at an impasse.