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Gunfire breaks out in Burkina Faso capital amid coup fears

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Associated Press

Gunfire has erupted in Burkina Faso’s capital hours after the president and prime minister were arrested by members of an elite military unit.

An Associated Press reporter said the shooting started late Wednesday when soldiers from the unit tried to disperse demonstrators.

The protesters had tried to march on the presidential place where the president and prime minister are being detained after being arrested by the elite guard unit hours earlier.

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The move raised fears of a coup just weeks before the country was to hold an election to replace its longtime leader who was ousted in a popular uprising late last year.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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