Burkina Faso junta detains INSO workers for 'spying'

The security minister says the NGO "collected and passed on sensitive security information" - which it denies.

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They are three Europeans, a Malian, and four Burkinabé - among them the NGO's country director and deputy. The organisation said they were detained some time ago but it was not previously reported.

Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said the NGO had "collected and passed on sensitive security information that could be detrimental to national security and the interests of Burkina Faso, to foreign powers".

The International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), which provides safety information to aid workers, has "categorically" denied the allegations.

Anthony Neal, a representative of the NGO told the BBC's Newsday programme that its Burkina Faso country director had been detained since July when the organisation was suspended. The seven others were arrested later.