African and Western powers denounce what they called an "attempted coup" and the EU demands "immediate" release of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore.
The government denies rumours that a coup was under way as sustained gunfire rang out for hours from several military camps.
Soldiers in poor landlocked African country stage mutinies at several barracks to demand sacking of military top brass and allocation of more resources to seven-year battle against insurgents.
National flag lowered to half-mast at the parliament, presidency and government offices in capital Ouagadougou following Wednesday’s deadly raid in Burkina’s Sahel region that killed 65 civilians and 15 gendarmes.
Some towns weren’t able to conduct voting at all, including Bartiebougou and Tin Akoff, where 14 soldiers were killed in an ambush by Daesh earlier this month.
Burkina votes in second election since 2014 revolution with around 400,000 people unable to vote due to violence.
HRW interviewed 17 people over the alleged killings, including 12 witnesses to the arrests and later burial of the victims, in Djibo, about 200 kilometres north of the capital Ouagadougou.
The West African country has been battling with a rising wave of violence since 2015 which left at least 500 dead.
"Several dozen armed men carried out an attack on the district of Arbinda, shooting several people dead," a local official tells AFP news agency.
Officials say gunmen set fire to the church, several shops and a small cafe after killing at least six congregants including a priest during mass in a Catholic church in Dablo, northern Burkina Faso.
''Africa is not a country'' goes the popular meme, and in fact, there are 55 states on the continent. Negotiating a common pan-African position on free trade is a massive undertaking, and informs us why Africa lacks leverage on the global stage.
Burkina Faso's government has launched an investigation into the attacks which killed eight soldiers and injured more than 80 in the capital,Ouagadougou. It is believed that one of the killed soldiers may have in fact been an assailant.
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