Presidential guard officers in
Burkina Faso have seized power in a coup, with reports of more than 10
deaths amid protests in the capital, Ouagadougou.
A close ally of former President Blaise Compaore has been named the country's new leader, state television reports. The US, France and African Union (AU) condemned the coup in the former French colony.
Those killed were shot dead by presidential guard forces in the capital, a civil society group said.
The claim by the influential Balai Citoyen group could not be independently verified.
A medical source in the city's main hospital said three people had been killed.
An unknown number of protesters have been detained.
'Rise up'
The coup leaders have imposed a night-time curfew across the West African state, and have ordered the closure of land and air borders, AFP news agency reports.
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The AU and regional body Ecowas, the Economic Community of West African States, called for the immediate release of "hostages", referring to interim President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida, who were detained at a cabinet meeting in the president palace on Wednesday.
Their transitional authority was due to hand power to a new government after elections on 11 October.
Seven things about Burkina Faso:
- It is one of the world's poorest countries - its main export is cotton
- A former French colony, it gained independence as Upper Volta in 1960
- Capt Thomas Sankara seized power in 1983 and adopted radical left-wing policies - he is often referred to as "Africa's Che Guevara"
- The anti-imperialist revolutionary renamed the country Burkina Faso, which translates as "land of honest men"
- Mr Compaore took power in the coup that killed Mr Sankara, and ruled for 27 years, until he was ousted last year following street protests
- People in Burkina Faso, known as Burkinabes, love riding motor scooters
- It is renowned for its pan-African film festival, Fespaco, held every two years in Ouagadougou
The rise and fall of Blaise Compaore
Guide to Burkina Faso
Mr Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising, partly organised by Balai Citoyen, in 2014 after 27 years in power, and is currently in exile.
He was accused of committing widespread abuses, and trying to change the constitution to extend his term in office.
Some of his key allies had been barred from contesting the election.
In media interviews, he said he had no contact with Mr Compaore and would do everything to "avoid violence that could plunge the country into chaos".
An earlier announcement on state television said wide-ranging talks would be held to form a new interim government that would organise "peaceful and inclusive elections".
Transitional parliamentary speaker Cheriff Sy called for people to "immediately rise up" against the coup, and declared himself the leader of the West African state.
"We are in a resistance situation against adversity," Mr Sy added.
French President Francois Hollande said he strongly condemned the coup "because an electoral process was under way".
However, France would not intervene militarily, he said.
The US said it was deeply concerned about events in Burkina Faso, and it condemned the seizure of power through unconstitutional means.
Burkina Faso is a key ally of the US and France in the campaign against militant Islamists in the region.
Analysis: Thomas Fessy, BBC West Africa correspondent
It is seen to be close to him, and is not popular on the streets. So its seizure of power could be a recipe for serious violence.
The transitional government might have made two mistakes - preventing politicians loyal to Mr Compaore from running in next month's elections and allowing the Reconciliation Commission, formed to heal wounds after the end of his authoritarian rule, to release a report calling for the presidential guard to be disbanded.
Some argue that a newly elected president would have had greater legitimacy to take such action.
Report culled from BBC
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