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Rival Claims to Presidency in Unsettled Burkina Faso Military Backs an Interim President, but Burkina Faso Remains Unsettled
(about 1 hour later)
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — A day after President Blaise Compaoré fled the country, ending 27 years in power in the face of revolt on the streets, two high-ranking military officers competed on Saturday to take over from him, with both saying they had assumed the duties of the head of state. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — A day after President Blaise Compaoré fled the country, ending 27 years in power in the face of revolt on the streets, military commanders appeared on Saturday to have resolved an internal power struggle, endorsing a colonel from the presidential guard to oversee a transition to elections.
In the immediate aftermath of Mr. Compaoré ’s departure, the chief of staff of the armed forces, Gen. Honoré Nabéré Traoré said he had taken over, announcing his decision at a packed news conference. But in a statement read over the radio in the early hours of Saturday, a second officer, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida, a commander of the presidential guard, said that he was assuming the duties of head of state “to guarantee the continuity of the state.” But after 24 hours of confusion about who would run this impoverished nation — an ally of the West in regional campaigns against Islamic militants — some opposition politicians whose followers chased Mr. Compaoré from power said they wanted a civilian to head the interim authority.
Military commanders met on Saturday to debate the rival claims to the presidency and appeared to have swung behind Colonel Zida. In a statement signed by General Traoré, the commanders said Colonel Zida had been chosen unanimously to run a transition period to elections. The statement was read out at a news conference but General Traoré was not present and his absence was not explained. The opposition, numbering 34 different groups and parties, seemed divided, however, with some opponents of Mr. Compaoré saying they supported the military’s action. The uncertainty deepened a sense of lingering crisis following his departure in a heavily armed convoy on Friday, even as word of his resignation inspired jubilation on the dusty streets.
Colonel Zida said the military had resolved to run this impoverished and landlocked West African country during a transitional period “to avoid anarchy.” His statement said the transition would be “as brief as possible” but acknowledged its precise structure had yet to be worked out with political and other leaders. In one a series of rapid-fire developments after Mr. Compaoré announced his resignation, the chief of staff of the armed  forces, Gen. Honoré Nabéré Traoré said Friday that he had taken over, announcing his decision at a packed news conference.
He appealed to regional and international powers to “support our people in this hard endeavor” and singled out the young people who predominate in Burkina Faso and who took to the streets in huge crowds, saying their democratic aspirations would not be “betrayed or disappointed.” But in a statement read over the radio and television in the early hours of  Saturday, a second officer, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida, the second in command of the presidential security regiment, said that he was assuming the duties of head of state “to guarantee the continuity of the state.”
The circumstances behind the military maneuvering Saturday seemed opaque and residents said the rival claims had left many citizens confused. Troops loyal to Colonel Zida were reported to be patrolling the streets after he announced the closure of the airport and land borders. A curfew was in force from dusk to dawn.
General Traoré had been described as close to Mr. Compaoré and had not had broad support among some of the protesters clamoring for the ouster of the longtime president. Military commanders met on Saturday to debate the rival claims to the presidency and said they had swung behind Colonel Zida. In a statement signed by General Traoré, the  commanders said Colonel Zida had been chosen unanimously to oversee a transition period to  elections. The statement was read out at a news conference, but General Traore was not present and his absence was not explained.
Mr. Compaoré, who had been one of Africa’s longest serving leaders, was reported on Saturday to be in Ivory Coast, where a statement from the office of President Alassane Ouattara said he had been given refuge with his family and others close to him. The statement gave no further details. Colonel Zida said the military had stepped in “to avoid anarchy.” But he insisted that the ouster of Mr. Compaoré was the result of a popular uprising, not a coup, which could damage military ties with the United States.
Mr. Compaoré left Ouagadougou in a heavily armed convoy on Friday after four days of protests by demonstrators who burned down the Parliament and ransacked offices across the city. Burkina Faso — the name means the Land of the Upright People — plays a central part in French and American efforts to curb militants in the region linked to Al Qaeda. France maintains a special forces base here.
On Saturday, the authorities in neighboring Ivory Coast said Mr. Compaoré, once ranked among Africa’s longest-serving leaders, had taken refuge there along with his family and members of his entourage. His destiny has been closely watched by other long-serving African leaders looking for ways of extending their rule.
The protests against Mr. Compaoré were provoked by his attempt to change the Constitution so he could run again in elections next year. At one point, he seemed on the brink of succeeding in securing support from lawmakers, but protesters surged into the Parliament building on Thursday and set it ablaze, forestalling a vote.
Colonel Zida’s statement said the transition to elections would be “as brief as possible” but acknowledged that details had yet to be worked out with political and other leaders.
He appealed to regional and international powers and to the African Union  to “support our people in this hard endeavor.” He also singled out the young people who predominate in Burkina Faso and who took to the streets in huge crowds, saying their democratic aspirations would not be “betrayed or disappointed.”
The circumstances behind the military maneuvering Saturday seemed opaque, and residents said the rival claims had left many citizens confused.
General Traoré had been described as close to Mr. Compaoré and did not have support among some of the protesters clamoring for the ouster of the president. But opposition figures said Colonel Zida was also seen as close to Mr. Compaoré, a wily political survivor for many years who had positioned himself as a regional player.