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Troops in Burkina Faso Appear Poised for Showdown With Coup Plotters Burkina Faso Military Seizes Barracks of Coup Holdouts
(about 2 hours 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 — The Burkina Faso military crushed the last remnants of a failed coup on Tuesday, overrunning the barracks of the elite unit that staged the coup 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, the Presidential Security Regiment. Soldiers were also seen near the airport, radio and television stations and other crucial locations in Ouagadougou, the capital. The military announced late in the evening that it had shelled and then seized the Camp Naaba Koom barracks, near the presidential palace here in the capital. The action followed a tense standoff, with troops loyal to the country’s transitional government surrounding the camp, the palace and other key buildings in the capital. Holdouts from the elite unit, the Presidential Security Regiment, had refused to surrender, even after the leader of the coup, Gen. Gilbert Diendéré, called on Tuesday for them to lay down their weapons.
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. Tanks and other armored vehicles took up positions outside the palace and the barracks, and soldiers were seen near the airport and the national radio and television stations. The airport was closed, sporadic gunfire was heard in the city, and the government told residents to stay away from the palace and the surrounding neighborhood, known as Ouaga 2000.
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.” Though the coup leaders handed power back to the transitional government last week after a mediation effort by West African leaders, the government has not yet retaken full control of Ouagadougou.
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.” Referring to the coup regiment by its French initials, the government said 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 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. Reuters reported late Tuesday, citing an army officer whom it did not name, that the troops entering the camp met little resistance. There was no immediate information concerning casualties.
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. 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. Mr. Compaoré is living in exile in Morocco, but his associates and supporters remain active; the coup followed efforts by the transitional government to exclude them from an election this fall.
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 General Diendéré and 13 other people associated with Mr. Compaoré, including Djibril Bassolé, the former foreign minister who was arrested on Tuesday. Under the agreement brokered by the leaders, the R.S.P. was supposed to return to its barracks and disarm. General Diendéré publicly apologized to the nation for the coup and urged his followers to comply, but some troops in the regiment refused.
The government officially disbanded the regiment on Friday. The next day, the authorities moved to seize the assets of General Diendéré and 13 other people associated with Mr. Compaoré, including Djibril Bassolé, a former foreign minister who was arrested on Tuesday.
General Diendéré told Reuters by telephone on Tuesday that he was away from the barracks in “a safe place,” but would not say where. The news agency said he was thought to have taken refuge in the Vatican’s diplomatic compound here.