President John Mahama and his counterparts Goodluck Jonathan from Nigeria and Senegal’s Macky Sall are meeting Burkina Faso’s military leaders to press for a speedy handover of power to a civilian ruler.

The African Union (AU) says the army acted unconstitutionally when it took over after President Blaise Compaore was forced to resign on Friday by angry civilians.

The AU on Monday gave the army a two-week deadline to hand over power to a civilian leader.

The Interim leader Lt. Col. Isaac Zida later promised to comply.

Mass protests were staged last week, following attempts by Blaise Compaore to extend his 27-year rule.

The angry protestors torched the country's House of Parliament and ransacked the state-owned media.

Compaore later resigned after the declaration of a state of emergency failed to restore peace.

The political crisis has left a volatile West African region, already reeling under the threat of Ebola, even more vulnerable.

ECOWAS heads are hoping to restore order.

The Chair of ECOWAS John Mahama left Ghana Wednesday for Burkina Faso to meet with the country's military heads.

His head of Communications, Ben Dotsei Marlor, told Joy News the president is holding consultations with representatives of the African Union and the United Nations.

"Steps are being taken to ensure that all stakeholders, political, religious, civil society, opposition are all spoken to, to see how ECOWAS, together with the international community can help Burkina Faso to return to constitutional rule," he stated.