Burkina Faso's ex-PM urged to contest presidency despite gov't restrictions

President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and Burkina Faso's former prime minister, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has been urged by his supporters to contest the country's upcoming presidential election, despite restrictions imposed by the transitional government.

The invitation to Ouedraogo who was prime minister from 1996 to 2000 in ousted president Blaise Compaore's reign, comes at a time when the transitional government has approved a law excluding Compaore's confidants from contesting the elections.

In a statement issued on Monday in the capital Ouagadougou, a group of individuals claiming to belong to "various political persuasions" said Ouedraogo should run in the polls on the ticket of the former ruling party, Congress for Democracy and Progress.

"We urge our colleague, Ouedraogo, to take up this responsibility because we believe he is the right man to help Burkina Faso overcome the challenges facing it," the statement said, adding: "Given the critical phase our country is going through, the next president should be elected carefully."

Ouedraogo, 62, was named as president of the ECOWAS Commission in February 2012.

Compaore was forced to step down last October amid mass protests against his attempt to amend the constitution to extend his 27-year term.

Burkina Faso is expected to organize presidential and legislative elections on October 11. Eleven candidates have expressed their intention to run for president, among them are Djibril Bassole and Yacouba Ouedraogo, who both served as ministers under Compaore's rule. Endi