Soldiers detain Burkina Faso interim leaders: chaos ensues

Soldiers arrested Burkina Faso’s transitional president and prime minister Wednesday, raising fears of a coup just weeks before the country was to hold an election to replace its longtime leader who was ousted in a popular uprising late last year. Hours later, gunfire erupted in the capital as the soldiers behind the standoff tried to disperse protesters who were marching on the presidential palace where the two transitional leaders were being detained. It was not immediately clear whether any of the demonstrators were wounded.

They’re saying, whatever your issue is, release these people and then we can talk about it.

Al Jazeera correspondent, Haru Mutasa says of protesters

There have been tensions over the vote because members of the ex-president’s party have been declared ineligible. Anyone who supported the ex-president’s bid to amend the constitution so he could seek another term is also banned from running. It’s possible the guards fear disbanding the unit might open the way for criminal proceedings against members for abuses committed during anti-government protests last year.

They’re trying to stabilise their position and protect their position.

Haru Mutasa, Al Jazeera correspondent

Burkina Faso Africa