(VOVworld) - The African Union has suspended Burkina Faso and imposed sanctions on leaders of the military coup.

Coup leader, Gen Gilbert Diendere arrives at the airport to greet Senegal's President Macky Sall and Benin's President Thomas Boni Yayi in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, September 18, 2015. (photo: reuters/ Joe Penny)

Soldiers from the elite presidential guard (RSP) stormed into a cabinet meeting on Wednesday and abducted President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Zida, disrupting a transition period due to end with polls next month.
The AU statement followed a meeting of the Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa. It gave coup leaders 96 hours, or until September 22, to restore the transitional government or face travel bans and asset freezes. It said the Council decides to suspend, with immediate effect, the participation of Burkina Faso in all AU activities.