Breaking News: Burkina Faso Coup Sparks Street Protests In The Capital.

Protester.

Presidential guard officers in Burkina Faso have seized power in a coup, with reports of more than 10 deaths amid protests in the

capital, Ouagadougou.
A close ally of former President Blaise Compaore has been named the country's new leader, state television reports.
The US, France and African Union (AU) condemned the coup in the former French colony.
Those killed were shot dead by presidential guard forces in the capital, a civil society group said. 

The claim by the influential Balai Citoyen group could not be independently verified.
A medical source in the city's main hospital said three people had been killed.
An unknown number of protesters have been detained.

'Rise up'

The coup leaders have imposed a night-time curfew across the West African state, and have ordered the closure of land and air borders, AFP news agency reports.
The headquarters of Mr Compaore's Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party were ransacked in Ouagadougou as news of the coup spread, it adds.
The AU and regional body Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States, called for the immediate release of "hostages", referring to interim President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida, who were detained at a cabinet meeting in the president palace on Wednesday.
Their transitional authority was due to hand power to a new government after elections on 11 October.

• It is one of the world's poorest countries - its main export is cotton
• A former French colony, it gained independence as Upper Volta in 1960
• Capt Thomas Sankara seized power in 1983 and adopted radical left-wing policies - he is often referred to as "Africa's Che Guevara"
• The anti-imperialist revolutionary renamed the country Burkina Faso, which translates as "land of honest men"
• Mr Compaore took power in the coup that killed Mr Sankara, and ruled for 27 years, until he was ousted last year following street protests
• People in Burkina Faso, known as Burkinabes, love riding motor scooters
• It is renowned for its pan-African film festival, Fespaco, held every two years in Ouagadougou

The 'heroes' of Burkina Faso's revolution
The rise and fall of Blaise Compaore
Guide to Burkina Faso

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Mr Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising, partly organised by Balai Citoyen, in 2014 after 27 years in power, and is currently in exile.
He was accused of committing widespread abuses, and trying to change the constitution to extend his term in office.
Some of his key allies had been barred from contesting the election. 

A statement issued by the coup leaders said the West African state would be led by Gen Gilbert Diendere, Mr Compaore's former chief-of-staff.
In media interviews, he said he had no contact with Mr Compaore and would do everything to "avoid violence that could plunge the country into chaos".
An earlier announcement on state television said wide-ranging talks would be held to form a new interim government that would organise "peaceful and inclusive elections".
Transitional parliamentary speaker Cheriff Sy called for people to "immediately rise up" against the coup, and declared himself the leader of the West African state.
"We are in a resistance situation against adversity," Mr Sy added.
Source: BBC