Burkina Faso army chiefs urging coup d'etat leaders to disarm 'without bloodshed'

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Burkina Faso's military chiefs are demanding the Regiment of Presidential Security disarm after last week's coup d'etat, also stating that the army is marching toward the capital.

The army chiefs asked coup supporters to relinquish their weapons to military barracks in exchange for safety guarantees. No signs of the army marching toward Ouagadougou, the capital, have yet been seen, BBC News reported.

"All the national armed forces are converging on Ouagadougou with the sole aim of disarming the presidential guard without any bloodshed," the military chiefs said in a statement. "They and their families will be protected."

Cherif Sy, the speaker of Burkina Faso's transitional Parliament, rejected a proposed peace deal after an international delegation met to mediate negotiations in response to the coup.

At least 10 people were killed and more than 100 were injured since last week's military overthrow. The delegation, which included Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi and Senegalese President Macky Sall, met with coup leader Gen. Gilbert Diendere in Ouagadougou starting Saturday.

The proposed deal would reinstate Burkina Faso's transitional government, including interim President Michel Kafando, and grant amnesty to Diendere and anyone arrested since the coup began.

Sy said he is rejecting the proposed deal over potentially granting Diendere amnesty. Sy declared himself head of state after the coup and called on the country's regular armed forces to "take all steps to stop this abuse of power."

Diendere was chief of staff to former President Blaise Compaore, who ruled for 27 years. Compaore, who is in exile, stepped down in October last year after protesters demanded his resignation. Kafando was freed on Friday, reportedly in good health.

Burkina Faso Prime Minister Isaac Zida, who was arrested along with Kafando on Wednesday, remained under house arrest.

Mediation proposals would also call for new elections to be held no later than Nov. 22. All candidates would be included under the proposal, whereas key allies to Compaore were previously barred from contesting the election.

The transitional government of Burkina Faso was dissolved on Thursday after an overthrow led by the country's Regiment of Presidential Security ahead of elections originally scheduled for Oct. 11

The African Union suspended Burkina Faso after the coup condemned by the United States, the United Nations and France. A summit was scheduled for Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria, where more announcements will be delivered over the proposed plans to help broker peace within the landlocked West African nation.