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Saturday 19 Sep 2015 - 13:52 Makkah mean time-6-12-1436
Addis Ababa (IINA) – The African Union (AU) said it has suspended Burkina Faso and will impose sanctions on coup leaders if they do not restore the transitional government and release its senior officials, news agencies reported.
"The Council decides to suspend, with immediate effect, the participation of Burkina Faso in all AU activities," said an AU statement issued Friday, following a meeting of the Peace and Security Council in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, adding that members of the Regiment of Presidential Security (RSP) linked to the kidnappings would be held legally accountable for their actions.
Elite members of RSP loyal to deposed President Blaise Compaore stormed into a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and kidnapped President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida, disrupting a transition period due to end with general elections in October.
"All measures taken by those who took power by force in Burkina Faso are null and void," Uganda's AU ambassador Mull Katende said.
The strong AU reaction came as Senegalese President Macky Sall, chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi met with coup leader General Gilbert Diendere – Compaore's former chief of staff – in Ouagadougou.
The AU gave coup leaders 96 hours, or until September 22, to restore the transitional government or face travel bans and asset freeze.
AB/IINA
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