AU still urging for transitional government after deadline

The African Union is still urging a transfer of power from the army to a transitional government in Burkina Faso, but is no longer threatening the country with sanctions if the hand over is not done within two weeks.

AU Chairman, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said he had not come to "threaten" or "impose" anything on political actors in Burkina Faso.

Senegalese President Macky Sall, who was chosen by the Ecowas as its contact person for Burkina Faso, and Togo's Faure Gnassingbe arrived in Ouagadougou on yesterday.

Their itinerary was not immediately made public.

The AU has insisted that the transition needs to be headed by a civilian person and that it must last twelve months.

The African Union had previously threatened the West African country with sanctions unless Col. Zida handed power over to civilians within two weeks, after massive protests forced Compaore to flee to Cote d'Ivoire.

Col. Zida downplayed the deadline and said it was more important to reach a consensus on how to organize the transitional period leading up to elections in November next year.

Source: News 24