Brussels: The European Union on Thursday condemned the detention of Burkina Faso's interim president and prime minister by the presidential guard as a threat to upcoming elections and demanded their immediate release.

‘The EU calls for the immediate release of those detained and respect for the political transition and the national interest,’ EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

‘Developments in Burkina Faso with the detention of the president and other ministers puts in peril the (political) transition and the path towards October 11 elections,’ Mogherini said.

She said the 28-nation EU stood with the United Nations and the African Union in condemning events in the capital Ouagadougou.

The statement coincided with an announcement by members of the presidential guard that they had ‘dissolved’ the country's political institution and vowed to organise ‘inclusive elections.’

Poverty-stricken Burkina Faso has been ruled by a transitional government since a popular uprising in October 2014 ousted president president Blaise Compaore, in office for 27 years and who wanted another term.

Members of the Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) set up by Compaore seized President Faso Michel Kafando and Prime Minister Isaac Zida from a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Compaore's supporters are banned from standing in the upcoming elections under a controversial election law passed in April which made anyone who supported ‘unconstitutional change’ ineligible to run.