POLITICAL parties and civil society representatives agreed in crisis talks today that Burkina Faso’s political transition should last a year before November 2015 elections.

But the talks in the capital Ouagadougou ended without a deal on who should head a transitional government.

The military, which has been in charge since President Blaise Compaore was forced to quit, was given a fortnight by the African Union (AU) on Monday to hand power to a civilian or face sanctions.

Army-backed interim leader Lt Col Isaac Zida has promised to comply with the deadline.

AU representatives Ghanaian President John Mahama, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Senagalese President Macky Sall had hopes that the country would have a civilian transitional leader by last night.

The leaders had given civilians two hours to submit names but had to admit finally that “there was no use in rushing” the process, in President Sall’s words.