He’s committed to hand power to a civilian leader, but shrugs off an African Union deadline to do this within a fortnight.

Ghanaian President John Mahama, who mediated transitional talks in Ougadougou, says he’s confident the Burkinabe army will hand power to a civilian leader in days rather than weeks.

Military leader, Lt Col Isaac Zida, who took power when President Blaise Campaore was forced out a week ago, won’t be held to a deadline.

He’s agreed to Burkina Faso having elections next November and says a civilian will lead the transition.

But he won’t commit on when he’ll hand over the reins.

He says it’s more critical to ensure a smooth process leading to those elections.

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But the crisis talks in Ouagadougou ended without a deal on who’ll head a transitional government.

The military has been in charge since President Blaise Compaore was forced to quit last week amid mass protests.

Three African leaders were in Ougadougou yesterday underlining the African Union decision to give the military two weeks to hand power to a civilian ruler or face sanctions.

Lt Col Isaac Zida – the interim leader backed by the army – promises to comply with the deadline.

Yesterday’s crisis talks in Ouagadougou were also attended by civil society groups and tribal chiefs.

They were mediated by Presidents John Mahama of Ghana, Senegal’s Macky Sall and Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria.

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The continental body threatens sanctions if this doesn’t happen, saying the army acted unconstitutionally taking power after President Blaise Compaore was forced out last Friday.

Burkina Faso’s military says a civilian-led transitional government will be established as quickly as possible.

Last Saturday, it named Lt Col Isaac Zida as the new interim ruler.

The AU Peace and Security Council meeting in Addis Ababa determines a popular revolt led to Compaore’s resignation, but the military takeover is against democracy.

If the military fails to give up power within two weeks sanctions could include suspension of Burkina Faso’s AU membership and a travel ban on military officials.

Zida tell diplomats and journalists in Ouagadougou that the military had no plan to usurp power.

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They’re responding to international and continental demand, backed by mass domestic protests for a civilian led democratic transformation.

At least one demonstrator was killed when soldiers fired shots at the state TV station and barricaded the capital’s main square yesterday.

Thousands of protesters were demanding the military give up power following the departure of Blaise Campaore after days of protests about his plan to extend his 27 year rule beyond elections scheduled for 2015.

The protesters gathered yesterday in the capital Ouagadougou, demonstrating against the army naming Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida as the leader of a transitional government.

The African Union, United States and European Union all called for an immediate restoration of civilian authority.

The military responded saying it would install a transition body… with all the components to be adopted by a broad consensus.

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