Attackers kill 7 in coordinated assault on Burkina Faso capital

Attackers in Burkina Faso's capital killed seven people and wounded some 50 others in a coordinated assault on the army headquarters and French embassy

that a French ambassador said was a terrorist attack. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which is the third major assault on Ouagadougou in just over two years.

Previous attacks were conducted by allies of al Qaeda in reprisal for Burkina Faso's participation in a regional fight against Islamist militants.

Speaking on state television, government spokesman Remi Dandjinou said the unidentified gunmen killed five Burkinabe soldiers and wounded around 50 others at the military headquarters. Two members of Burkina Faso's paramilitary gendarmes were killed defending the embassy, he said.

An emergency medical post was established at the municipal stadium. A government statement said four gunmen were "neutralised" at the French embassy. The defence minister said three assailants were killed at the army headquarters. The police said one member of the group, who had attempted

to flee near the city's main market, was being surrounded by security forces.

A French diplomatic source said that no French nationals were killed in the attacks. Witnesses said masked gunmen attacked the downtown army headquarters at around 10am (10.00 GMT). "I saw people with sacks on their backs attack the guard.

Then I heard the explosion. I saw soldiers flee the army headquarters building running," witness Kader Sanou said. The explosion inside the headquarters shook surrounding buildings, set the compound on fire and sent up a thick column of black smoke.

Panicked residents fled the city centre on foot or motorbikes as dozens of Burkina Faso special forces and armoured vehicles took up positions in the area.

Around two kilometres (1.24 miles) away the French embassy also came under attack. Police also took up positions near the offices of the prime minister where gunfire was also reported. "Burkinabe security forces are mobilised against the

attackers with the support of security forces at our embassy," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in a statement.

An aide to Le Drian later said the diplomatic compound and Ouagadougou's French cultural institute, which the embassy had earlier said was involved in the attack, were no longer in danger.