Elusive junta leader Damiba calls on rival military leader Traore to 'avoid a fratricidal war' in Burkina Faso while protesters attack French embassy, accusing ex-colonial ruler of sheltering Damiba
He had installed himself as leader of the country of 16 million after accusing elected president Roch Marc Christian Kabore of failing to beat back militant fighters.Just before 8:00 pm on Friday, more than a dozen soldiers in fatigues appeared on state television to announce his removal from power.But after a quiet night and morning, the situation had become tense again in the Burkinabe capital by midday on Saturday.
The Burkinabe army then dismissed an announcement of a fresh coup, speaking instead of an "internal crisis" within the military.Earlier on Saturday, forces loyal to Traore appeared on state television and said Damiba had taken refuge at a French army base from where he was organising the counter-strike.But hundreds of people who support Traore's takeover gathered in front of the French embassy in protest on Saturday.
In the early evening, a fire broke out at the embassy and several shots were heard. Paris said it condemned violence against its embassy. Traore, the 34-year-old army captain, said in interviews on Saturday that he and his men did not seek to harm Damiba. "If we wanted, we would take him within five minutes of fighting and maybe he would be dead, the president. But we don't want this catastrophe," Traore told the. "We don't want to harm him, because we don't have any personal problem with him. We're fighting for Burkina Faso.": "We have no intention to bring Damiba to justice. We only wish that he would go rest because he is tired, and as for us we are going to continue to do the work.
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