Burkina Faso’s interim parliament on Tuesday adopted a new electoral law banning figures linked to deposed president Blaise Compaore from running in the October general elections, an AFP correspondent witnessed.

Under the draft law, which was passed with 75 votes in favour, 10 against and three abstentions, those who had backed Compaore’s failed bid to extend his rule would not be eligible to stand during the elections.

“Anybody is ineligible (to run) who supported the unconstitutional change that threatened the principle of democratic choice and especially the principle of presidential term limits,” states the law.

The law applies to all elections in 2015 and 2016 and effectively bars members of Compaore’s government and the leaders of his Congress for Democracy and Progress (CDP) party as well as the former president’s allies.

Deputies from the previous parliamentary majority who supported Compaore said the law could weaken social cohesion. The CDP rejected the law and said it was an attempt by a small group of activists to confiscate power.

Security forces on Tuesday dispersed youth supporters of Compaore outside the headquarters of the transitional national council.

Separately, police said on Tuesday that they had arrested eight members of Compaore’s regime including former minister for mines and energy Salif Lamoussa Kabore for offences including embezzlement, disturbing the peace and illegal political activity.