Calls for a return to civilian rule in Burkina Faso

Sunday's demonstration in the capital, Ougadougou, appeared to be much smaller than the ones last week that led President Blaise Compaore to step down and flee the country on Friday.

News agencies estimated the number of protesters who turned out to the capital's main square on Sunday at between a few hundred and a few thousand.

On Saturday, opposition leaders had called for the demonstration against what they described as a military coup, in which Lieutenant-Colonel Isaac Zida has emerged as the country's new leader.

Opposition figures who turned out to the demonstration briefly addressed the crowd, denouncing the power grab.

You must "remain vigilant to preserve the people's victory," the AFP news agency quoted Jean-Hubert Bazie, leader of the Convergence of Hope party, as saying. He then called on the crowd to disperse peacefully.

International condemnation

The military takeover has also been condemned by some members of the international community.

The US State Department on Saturday called on the country's army to restore civilian rule immediately.

"We urge civilian leadership to be guided by the spirit of the constitution of Burkina Faso and to move immediately towards free and fair presidential elections," a statement issued by State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

The head of the United Nations Office for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, said he was hopeful that civilian rule would be restored swiftly.

"If not, the consequences are pretty clear," Chambas said. "We want to avoid having to impose sanctions on Burkina Faso."

Germany has also condemned the military takeover. A statement from the foreign office in Berlin on Sunday called on the country's military to hand back powers to civilian authorities in accordance with the country's constitution.

Power struggle resolved

Zida emerged as the new leader of Burkina Faso following a meeting of senior military officers on Saturday, after a rival general withdrew his claim to power.

This came a day after President Compaore resigned in the face of days of mass protests against his rule, before fleeing to neighboring Ivory Coast.

The protests began after the news emerged that Compaore was seeking to get Burkina Faso's constitution changed to allow him to run for a fifth term in office.

pfd/tj (AFP, Reuters, AP)