Thomas Sankara's widow denies agreement with Burkinabe gov't over exhumation

The widow of Thomas Sankara, father of Burkina Faso's revolution who was assassinated in 1987 in a coup, has denied existence of any agreement with current authorities over reopening of the case of the killing of her husband.

Burkina Faso's transition President Michel Kafando has said efforts will be made to "help her family identify the body."

"Sankara's family is aware of the government's plans but so far, we have not received any official communication with regards to those plans," Mariam Sankara said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Since 1987, Sankara's family has been demanding for exhumation of the body of this national leader, an icon of Pan-Africanism, to verify if the body that was buried hastily after the coup was his, something that the former government had refused to do.

"Captain Thomas Sankara's family reaffirms its willingness to discuss the modality concerning the judicial inquiry on his death, " the statement said, adding the family lawyers will soon hold a press conference to inform the citizens about the progress made in the case.

Thomas Sankara led the Burkina Faso revolution from 1983 until his assassination that brought former president Blaise Compaore to power in October 1987.

Compaore last October quit the presidency amid protests against his attempt to extend a 27-year rule. Endi