Demonstrators dispersed after clashes with police in west Burkina Faso

Police in Burkina Faso's western city of Dedougou on Wednesday said calm had been restored in the city, one day after clashes with demonstrators.

Local people staged the demonstration after allegations that policemen had tortured a detainee to death.

Eye witnesses said demonstrators threw missiles at police stations and ransacked residences of some policemen.

In a release issued on Wednesday, police said the demonstrators had been dispersed "several times".

"Patrols are under way in the city and we have conducted arrests. For the moment, calm has been restored," the release said.

Unnamed security sources said talks were underway between the army and police.

Burkina Faso has seen months of rising tensions between the public and police.

In mid-March, hundreds of people attacked Cinkasse police station near the border with Togo over a man in custody suspected to have killed two foreign exchange dealers. One person was killed and four policemen injured in the riot.

Source: XINHUA