Burkina Faso's ousted president sighted in Ivory Coast

Deposed Burkina Faso president Blaise Compaore is said to be cooling off in a luxury hotel in Ivory Coast’s capital Yamoussoukro, witnesses said Saturday.

“The services of the President hotel in Yamoussoukro served him (Compaore) dinner yesterday (Friday) and breakfast this morning (Saturday),” according to a hotel employee.

Another local resident said he saw “a long convoy of around 30 cars going in the direction of the villa,” which is used as a semi-official residence for foreign dignitaries.

This sighting contradicted a statement early today by the new helmsman of Burkina Faso, Lt.Col Isaac Zida, that both Compaore, and the chief of army staff,Navere Honore Traore are in ‘safe place’.

Zida at a press conference said the “safety and well-being of the two men are assured.