Burkina Faso’s coup leader has flouted an ultimatum to step down, saying his forces will retaliate if attacked.
Burkina Faso Army had put pressure on the country’s coup leader, General Gilbert Diendere, to surrender or face an assault, as its troops reach the capital, Ouagadougou on Tuesday.
A Senior Official told the BBC that the presidential guard had until 10 a.m. to give up power or troops would launch an assault to retake the capital.
According to security sources, negotiations between Army Chiefs and the presidential guard were under way.
General Diendere seized power last week with the backing of the presidential guard, but the army had remained loyal to the deposed government.
The European Union (EU) had, however, called on the presidential guard to immediately lay down their weapons to avoid bloodshed.
At least 10 people had been killed and more than 100 injured since the coup in clashes between the presidential guard and protesters.
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, had on Tuesday, hosted a special summit of ECOWAS Heads of State in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
