Burkina Faso’s opposition and civil society leaders warned Saturday against a military takeover and called a mass rally after the army stepped into the power vacuum left by the ouster of president Blaise Compaore.

Burkina Faso's opposition and civil society leaders warned Saturday against a military takeover and called a mass rally after the army stepped into the power vacuum left by the ouster of president Blaise Compaore.

The military named a high-ranking officer, Isaac Zida, to lead the country's transition a day after Compaore was forced to resign as his plans to extend his 27 year rule exploded into violent protests that saw parliament set ablaze.

Zida, who beat out a rival claim by the landlocked west African nation's army chief to lead the transition government, vowed to work closely with civil society, without giving details on a planned transition.

But opposition and civil society leaders swiftly issued a statement warning the military against a power snatch, demanding instead a "democratic and civilian transition".

"The victory born from this popular uprising belongs to the people, and the task of managing the transition falls by right to the people. In no case can it be confiscated by the army," they said in a statement.

They also called a new mass rally in capital Ouagadougou on Sunday at the site now nicknamed "Revolution Square" where up to a million people had gathered earlier this week to demand Compaore's resignation.

The civil society's call appeared to be backed by the African Union, which urged a "civilian-led and consensual transition" through free elections in the former French colony.