Burkina Faso's coup leader, the former chief-of-staff for ex-president Blaise Compaore, told France 24 television he had had no contact with the former strongman who was ousted last year and fled to Ivory Coast.

"I have had no contact with him, before or after," said Gilbert Diendere in response to a question on whether Compaore was involved in the coup, adding he had the full support of the army.