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Burkina Faso dissolves pro-coup elite army unit, freezes assets of 18 perpetrators

Xinhua, September 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

The government of transition on Friday held its first council of minister following the return to constitutional order and approved a set of measures among which the dissolution of the 1300 soldiers presidential security regiment (RSP), elite army unit of the West African country, according to an official release on Saturday.

Besides, it announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry on the coup d'etat perpetrated by the RSP and the freeze of assets of 18 natural and legal persons suspected of being involved in the coup.

The Council also terminated the functions of the Minister delegate at the Presidency in charge of security Sidi Pare, as well as that of the President' Chief of Staff Colonel-mayor Boureima Kere.

On Sept. 16, militaries members of the RSP seized power in Burkina Faso after they rushed in the council of ministers and took hostages the president of transition Michel Kafango, the Prime minister Yacouba Isaac Zida and government members.

The coup led by brigadier-general Diendere Gibert, very close to the ex-president Blaise Compaore driven from power by popular insurrection in October 2014, caused officially 11 fatalities and 271 injured.

"Presidential security militaries who should answer in courts must be accountable to justice", Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac Zida, former number two of the same elite unit of the Burkina Faso army said.

The established commission of inquiry has a maximum period of 30 days to submit its report and is designed to "determine responsibility, identify the perpetrators, accomplices, soldiers and civilians involved in the coup." Enditem