CRI听力:Burkina Faso Leader Says to Hand Power to Transitional Body

The interim President of Burkina Faso says the army is going to quickly cede power to a transitional government and appoint a new head of state.

Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida's comments have been made as the military in the West African country tries to calm concerns after it moved in and dissolved the government last week.

"We need to reassure them that we are not here to usurp power, to get in the chair and run the power of the state, but we are here to help get the country out of the situation in which it is finding itself now."

Zida says a new head of state will be chosen following broad discussions with various groups. He's not given a specific timeframe, though.

Zida has been named interim leader by the military after long-time president Blaise Compaore was forced to flee the country following two days of mass protests against his attempts to extend his 27-year rule.

The African Union, meantime, has given Zida an ultimatum to hand back power to a civilian administration within two weeks or face sanctions.

Under Burkina Faso's constitution, the head of the National Assembly should take office if the president resigns, with a mandate to organize elections within 90 days.

However, the head of the National Assembly has fled the country, along with other senior members of the Compaore administration.