Burkina Faso 'coup plot' foiled

President Blaise Compaore has won two elections

Twelve people have been arrested in Burkina Faso, accused of plotting to stage a coup.

Public prosecutor Abdoulaye Barry said the plotters, who included two army captains, had foreign backing.

He did not say which foreign country was involved but tensions have recently been running high with neighbouring Ivory Coast.

President Blaise Compaore came to power in 1987, in the most recent of the five coups staged in Burkina Faso.

Mr Compaore has since won multi-party elections in 1991 and 1998.

'Foreign funding'

Other alleged plotters included low-ranking members of the presidential guard and a pastor, Mr Barry said.

They were arrested last Wednesday but the alleged plot was only made public at a news conference on Tuesday.

"They were waiting for arms from a foreign country which had already provided money," he said.

Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo has accused Burkina Faso of backing the rebels who tried to seize power last year and who still control half of the country.

Burkina Faso denies the charges and in turn accuses Ivory Coast of mistreating its many citizens living in Ivory Coast.