Burkina Faso to choose transitional leader

A member of a civil society organisation said that three names were drawn up from about 20 nominations for the position of Burkina Faso's transitional leader, to take over the reins from the military authority in power.

Nominations Sunday had been submitted from civil society organisations, political parties and the armed forces, Xinhua reported.

The nominated are - Bishop Paul Ouedraogo, Archbishop of Bobo-Dioulasso, Josephine Ouedraogo, former minister during the revolution led by Thomas Sankara, and Justin Damo Barro, former governor of the West African states central bank BCEAO and former deputy minister for the budget.

"It is not convenient that we make any proposal because we will be judge and defendant. We confine ourselves to provide moral leadership," the member said.

The military has been in charge in Burkina Faso since President Blaise Compaore was forced to quit late last month amid mass protests.

The African Union (AU) had given the military two weeks time to hand over power to a civilian ruler or face sanctions.

Isaac Zida - the interim leader backed by the army - later promised to comply with the deadline.

He was previously the second in command of the presidential guard.