Pro-Compaore politician arrested in Burkina over failed coup

Ouagadougou (AFP) - Burkina Faso authorities on Thursday arrested the deputy of deposed leader Blaise Compaore's party, as part of a probe into a failed bid to overthrow the interim government, a security source told AFP.

Achille Tapsoba, vice-president of the Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party, is the third pro-Compaore political leader to be detained this week in connection to last month's short-lived coup.

"He was wanted, and he handed himself in to a police station," the security source said.

Burkina Faso, which last year saw a popular uprising oust veteran president Compaore from power, found itself on the edge of chaos for six days from September 17, when an elite army force loyal to the old regime tried to snatch power from the transitional authority.

Colonel Sidi Pare, who in June was appointed by the post-Compaore government, was also arrested on Tuesday over alleged collusion with the putschists, the source said.

Another two pro-Compaore politicians -- Leonce Kone and Hermann Yameogo -- were arrested Monday.

Coup leader General Gilbert Diendere, who headed the now disbanded elite presidential guard (RSP) behind the overthrow bid, and ex-foreign minister Djibrill Bassole have been charged with murder and attacking state security.

Ten people were killed in the September unrest, according to the interim government.

A general election that had been due to take place this week and had been seen as a major step in the impoverished west African country's road to democracy, has been pushed back indefinitely by the coup.

One of the demands of the putschists was that the elections be "inclusive", meaning that Compaore loyalists be allowed to run for office.

Burkina's cabinet met in the presidential palace on Thursday for the first time since the coup.