Soldiers Arrest Burkina Faso President And Prime Minister

Soldiers on Wednesday interrupted a cabinet meeting in Burkina Faso, detaining President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida, the radio station Omega FM reported.

They also arrested several ministers.

Kafando was chosen interim president in October after the ousting of Blaise Compaore.

Initially, Zida, the second-in-command of the presidential guard, had taken power when Compaore fled to Ivory Coast on October 31 after massive demonstrations demanding an end to his 27-year rule.

The African Union threatened Burkina Faso with sanctions unless power was handed over to civilians, and an agreement was reached on a transitional period in the run-up to elections due in November.