Burkina Faso 'coup attempt' condemned by Ecowas

Burkina Faso's neighbours have condemned what they call an attempted coup in the West African state.

President Roch Kaboré's whereabouts are unclear amid conflicting reports on whether he has been detained by dissident forces.

Gunfire was heard overnight near the presidential palace and at barracks in the capital, Ouagadougou.

The mutinying troops have demanded the sacking of military chiefs and more resources to fight Islamist militants.

Mr Kaboré has not been seen in public since the crisis began in the early hours of Sunday, but two posts have appeared on his Twitter account.

The latest one calls on "those who have taken up arms to lay them down in the higher interest of the nation", while an earlier one congratulates the national football team on their win in an Africa Cup of Nations match.

In a strongly worded statement, West African regional bloc Ecowas said it "holds the military responsible for the physical wellbeing" of the president.

"Ecowas is following with great concern the evolution of the political and security situation in Burkina Faso, characterised since Sunday 23 January by an attempted coup d'etat