AUTHORITIES in Burkina Faso have named former foreign minister Michel Kafando as transitional president in a key step towards returning the west African country to democracy in the wake of a brief military takeover.

Mr Kafando, 72, was chosen by a committee as part of a charter hammered out after long time President Blaise Compaore was toppled last month following mass protests, only to be replaced a day later by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida.

Mr Kafando will name a prime minister to appoint a 25-member government, but will be barred from standing at elections planned for late next year.

He said: "The committee has designated me to guide temporarily the destiny of our country. This is more than an honour. It's a true mission I take with the utmost seriousness."

The committee, drawn from the army, traditional and religious groups, civil society and the political opposition, selected him from among five candidates after a closed-door meeting that began on Sunday and went into the early hours.

The African Union gave Mr Zida two weeks to re-establish civilian rule or face sanctions and on Saturday he restored the constitution suspended when Mr Compaore was overthrown.

Mr Kafando is a former ambassador of the former French colony at the UN and one-time president of its Security Council.