Heavy firing erupted today at the barracks of an elite military unit which staged a short-lived coup in Burkina Faso as their leader asked his troops to lay down their arms to "avoid a bloodbath".
The Burkinabe military meanwhile warned it was giving the failed putschists "yet another chance" to give up their weapons in line with a peace deal mediated by regional powers.
An AFP journalist said dust was rising in the sky above the Naaba Koom II barracks in the capital Ouagadougou next to the presidential palace following heavy weapons fire at the barracks where the RSP presidential guard have been holed up.
"A last chance was given to the former presidential guard and we are giving them yet another chance to surrender to avoid a confrontation," said Lieutenant Colonel Aziz Ouedraogo, an army spokesman.
He said around 300 soldiers had ringed the barracks, adding there "have been no clashes we are just positioned and awaiting orders."
Coup leader General Gilbert Diendere told AFP that an assault by government troops on the barracks was "over" and that he was ready to face justice.
"I am not in the camp ... I will put myself at the disposal of my country's judiciary," he said, speaking over the telephone.
But the military said the attack was at an "advanced stage" and had not finished.
Diendere also asked his men to surrender in a message cited by Omega radio station.
"I am asking elements of the RSP to lay down their arms to avoid a bloodbath," Omega quoted Diendere as saying.
Ougadougou airport was shut down today as troops locked down the area around the barracks of the RSP, who were officially dissolved after they abandoned their September 17 coup.
All flights were cancelled and the airport, which is located near the city centre, would remain shut until further notice, an aviation source said.
Although the unit abandoned its attempted coup last week, the guards have failed to lay down their weapons and remained inside their barracks, prompting a new standoff with the government.
In a sign of escalating tensions, troops today deployed all around the barracks with armoured cars and pickup trucks, while soldiers equipped with machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades were stationed at several intersections.
The lockdown appeared to be an attempt to exert pressure on the unit's leader, Diendere, a former close ally of ousted strongman Blaise Compaore.
