Colonel Zida and Diabre at the meeting today

Burkina Faso’s army on Sunday pledged to put in place a unity government to manage a political transition after a popular uprising forced long-ruling president Blaise Compaore to quit.

“A transition body will be put in place with all the components to be adopted by a broad consensus,” according to a statement read out by colonel Auguste Barry, an aide of Isaac Zida, who had been named the country’s interim leader by the army.

“Power does not interest us, only the greater interest of the nation,” said the army.

“What is currently at stake is more than self interest,” it added in the statement issued following talks between Zida and opposition leaders.

The army’s claim to seek a consensual transition government also comes after thousands of people rallied in the capital Ouagadougou Sunday to protest against what they say is a military power grab.

The US, United Nations and the African Union have called for a civilian-moderated democratic transition.

The European Union joined the chorus today, calling on the Burkina Faso military to respect the fundamental rights of the people, including to peaceful protest, after troops fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Ouagadougou denouncing a military power grab.

Military and security forces should live up to their responsibilities by ensuring “the security and rights of the people, including the right to demonstrate peacefully,” the European Union’s external affairs arm said in a statement.

Colonel Zida welcomes Diabre and pro-democracy team

The EU repeated that it hoped to see a civilian transitional authority in place which would prepare the ground for free and transparent elections as quickly as possible.

This was the best course of action “to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Burkina Faso people and to maintain normal relations with the international community,” the statement said.

That would allow in turn for “the continuation of significant development and cooperative” ties, it added.

The EU said it backed international efforts to help resolve the crisis in Burkina Faso and stood ready to help them.