Military Detains Burkina Faso Leaders Weeks Before Vote

Burkina Faso's interim president Michel Kafando in Ouagadougou. Photo: AFP

Witnesses say that Burkina Faso's transitional leaders have been detained by the military just weeks before the country was due to hold national elections.

The arrests of the prime minister and president on Wednesday raise concerns about whether a coup is underway in the West African nation.

Achille Tapsoba, who works at the presidency, told The Associated Press that the military arrived and was preventing the president and prime minister from leaving.

Burkina Faso's leader of 27 years was ousted from power late last year in a popular uprising that saw demonstrators set fire to the parliament to protest his bid to change the constitution to prolong his rule.

The transitional government organized the Oct. 11 vote, and was supposed to stay in power until that election could be held.