Burkinabe coup leaders release detained PM

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso

The National Democratic Council, Burkina Faso’s new governing body, released interim Prime Minister Colonel Isaac Zida – who had been detained since last week’s coup – on Tuesday.

A local political source told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity that Zida “was released this morning and is doing well."

Coup leader Gen. Gilbert Diendere, a former army chief-of-staff for Compaore, meanwhile, has been named the country's interim leader until fresh elections can be held.

Last Wednesday, members of the Burkinabe Presidential Guard stormed into a cabinet meeting and arrested President Michel Kafando, PM Zida, and a handful of other government ministers.

Kafando was released two days later.

Two days later, Senegalese President Macky Sall and Beninese President Bony Yayi both visited Burkina Faso in an attempt to mediate the political crisis.

On Tuesday, however, Burkina Faso's military establishment issued an ultimatum to the coup leaders, demanding that they lay down their arms before 10am GMT.

Prompting fears of possible conflict, Gen. Diendere responded by declaring that his troops were “prepared to defend themselves."

Since last Wednesday, political violence across the West African nation has left ten people dead and dozens injured, Balai Citoyen, a local NGO, said via Facebook.

Meanwhile, members of the international community – including Turkey, the U.S., France and the African Union – have condemned last week’s coup in the former French colony.