Following the Thursday coup in Burkina Faso, two military factions are currently engage in war of words, each claiming control of the West African country.

The battle for the leadership of the country began after violence broke out, leading to the resignation of long time President Blaise Compaore. The two factions involving the country’s Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Honore Traore, and the deputy chief of the presidential guard, Lt. Col. Isaac Zida met for talks on Saturday at the main military camp in Ouagadougou after Zida declared that he was ousting the army chief of staff as leader of the transition.

Soldiers loyal to Zida walked through the quiet streets of the capital, Ouagadougou, after he announced in a radio broadcast on Friday night that he was taking over as head of state to avoid a descent into anarchy and to ensure a rapid democratic transition.

Compaore announced his resignation on Friday after two days of mass protests against his attempts to amend the constitution in order to elongate his 27-year rule.

At least three persons are believed to have died after protesters stormed the parliament building and set it ablaze.

Sporadic gunshot had been reported close to the presidential palace before Zida made his statement, but a military source said it was a localized incident.

Meanwhile, the ousted president, Blaise Compaore and his family, as well as entourage arrived Ivory Coast on Saturday morning and headed straight for the presidential retreat in the coastal resort of Assinie, Abidjan, the country’s capital.

The coup staged in Burkina Faso made it the seventh time that the military would take over power since the country gained independence from France in 1960, when it was known as Upper Volta.