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Burkina Faso's transition president, ministers released: putschists

Xinhua, September 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

The National Council for Democracy (CND) on Friday issued a statement announcing the release of Burkina Faso's Transition President Michel Kafando and ministers.

However, the statement signed by CND leader Gen. Gilbert Diendere did not specify if Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida was among the "released ministers."

The statement said on Thursday, CND, led by its president Gen. Diendere, met with a delegation of international mediators at the request of the International Support and Follow-up Group for the Transition in Burkina Faso.

"The National Council for Democracy has listened to the messages of each delegation and accepted the principle of mediation. It has also reaffirmed its commitment not to hold onto power for long," the statement added.

On Wednesday evening, the soldiers arrested the transition president, his prime minister and members of government, before setting up the National Council for Democracy.

They also imposed an overnight curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., but authorized Burkinabe muslims to continue with their normal prayers in mosques.

On Thursday, three lifeless bodies of protesters were found on the streets of Ouagadougou, and hospital sources told Xinhua about 60 other people had been injured.

An African mediation team led by Senegal's Macky Sall and Benin's Boni Yayi is scheduled to visit Ouagadougou on Friday. Enditem