Burkina Faso's new leader says gunfire in capital was counter-offensive by ousted president

FILE PHOTO - Captain Ibrahim Traore looks on during the announcement on television that he has ousted Burkina Faso's military leader Paul-Henri Damiba and dissolved the government and constitution, in Ouagadougou
FILE PHOTO - Captain Ibrahim Traore looks on during the announcement on television that he has ousted Burkina Faso's military leader Paul-Henri Damiba and dissolved the government and constitution, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, September 30, 2022, in this detail of still image obtained from a video. Radio Television Burkina Faso/Handout via REUTERS

OUAGADOUGOU, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's self-declared new leader Ibrahim Traore said gunfire in the capital Ouagadougou on Saturday was part of a counter-offensive staged by ousted President Paul-Henri Damiba.

Speaking on local radio station Omega in his first interview since Friday's coup, Traore said: "They led a counter-offensive this morning. Some of the special forces were sent ... and also the air base has been manipulated."

Reporting by Anne Mimault Writing by Alessandra Prentice Editing by Frances Kerry

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