No immunity for Burkina Faso Troops - Amnesty

Amnesty International says there can be no immunity for Burkina Faso troops who shot dead unarmed civilians including children in the days following their September 17 coup.

The rights group said the troops from the country's presidential guard, the RSP, "displayed a cold-blooded disregard for human life, killing 14 unarmed protestors and bystanders and wounding hundreds more with automatic weapons".

Amnesty said on several occasions, soldiers had opened fire without warning on protesters holding their hands in the air.

Many of the 271 people hurt in post-coup violence were injured by live ammunition while others were whipped and beaten by the RSP.

Amnesty International says "Burkina Faso's transitional authorities must ensure that all human rights violations committed by the security forces, including crimes under international law, are independently and impartially investigated through an expanded Commission of Inquiry". 


AFP