The general behind last month's failed coup in Burkina Faso has surrendered to the country's transitional government.
General Gilbert Diendere turned himself in Thursday after negotiations with officials in the capital, Ouagadougou.
VOA's French to Africa service reports that Diendere received assurances that he would not be killed and that he and other soldiers who took part in the September 16 coup will receive a fair trial.
Diendere was reported to be hiding in the Vatican embassy on Wednesday, a day after Burkina Faso's army moved to disarm the RSP, the former presidential guard that the general led.
The army and RSP members clashed briefly in Ouagadougou late Tuesday afternoon before the army seized control of the RSP's military camp. Diendere had earlier spoken on local radio, telling his men to give up their weapons.
During the failed coup, Diendere's forces detained the interim president, prime minister and several Cabinet members. The guard was unhappy the interim government barred supporters of former president Blaise Compaore from running in upcoming elections.
Compaore was ousted in a popular uprising in October of last year as he tried to extend his 27 years in office.
General Diendere held power for nearly a week but was forced to step down under pressure from the army, demonstrators, and the West African bloc ECOWAS.
Burkina Faso was planning to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on October 11. It remains unclear when the vote will take place.
