A general close to ousted strongman Blaise Compaore took the lead in a Burkina Faso coup Thursday and promised elections would be held "soon", as the death toll from gunshots fired at protesters rose to three.

The latest unrest hit the landlocked west African nation just weeks ahead of presidential and legislative elections slated for October 11 -- the country's first since veteran leader Compaore was forced out last year.

The power grab began on Wednesday when soldiers from the elite presidential guard (RSP) burst into a cabinet meeting and seized interim President Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida.