Deposed Burkina Faso president to be restored

The leader of Burkina Faso'srecent coup is expected to return power on Wednesday to the transitional president he overthrew as coup leaders and the army signed an agreement late Tuesday to end a tense standoff.

The Economic Community of West African States, the regional economic block known as ECOWAS, also demanded the junta lay down their arms and for Burkina Faso's military not to attack coup supporters as it prepares to return transitional leader Michel Kafando to power.

A tense standoff took place in the capital, Ouagadougou, on Tuesday after coup leader General Gilbert Diendere refused to heed a deadline for his men to lay down their arms in the face of fierce opposition to the takeover.

Instead, Diendere said he would hand over power only after requested by members of ECOWAS, who met in Nigeria earlier in the day. Leaders from Senegal, Togo, Benin, Niger, Ghana and Nigeria are expected to head to Ouagadougou on Wednesday, ECOWAS said after the meeting.

'I do not want to be prime minister': Diendere

The bloc called on all parties to maintain order and to not undertake any actions that could lead to an unraveling of the security situation in the country. Soldiers opposed to the coup poured into the capital Tuesday to convince coup supporters to lay down their arms.

Diendere is the former commander of the presidential guard, which led the coup.

"I will hand over power to a civilian on the date recommended by the ECOWAS summit. I do not want to play a particular role in the transition," Diendere said at a press conference. "I do not want to be prime minister."

"We will find a solution between brothers in arms to avoid confrontations," Diendere added.

Burkina Faso's transitional government was installed after long-term President Blaise Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising last October. Elections were scheduled to be held next month but Diendere, a former adviser to Compaore, had said that was too early.

West African mediators wanted Kafando to be reinstalled until elections can be held. After last week's coup, Kafando sought shelter at the residence of the French ambassador in Ouagadougou.

bw/cmk (AP, AFP)