Churches in Burkina Faso are working on peace and reconciliation in the nation weeks after President Blaise Compaore was ousted.

The international community is closely following developments in the former French colony where there have been protests over the military's move to control the country after the president's removal from office.

France helped Compaore leave the country safely, to spare the impoverished country from a potential "bloodbath".

The uprising that forced his resignation after over a quarter century in power was at times violent, and there have since been protests over the military's control of the country in place of him.

Canada has suspended aid to the country and the AFP news agency reports that the presidents of Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal were due to arrive in Burkina Faso on Wednesday to pressure the army to keep its promise of handing back power to the people.

Church leaders are also keen to see the military stick to establishing the promised democracy and Msgr Joseph Kinda, spokesman for Burkina Faso's bishops' conference told the Catholic Herald interim leader Isaac Zida has held "consultative talks" with Catholic, Muslim and other religious leaders.

He had little sympathy for the ousted president, saying he had caused a lot of the troubles by "taking a position against society and failing to speak in the same language".

There has been some rioting and looting but Mgr Kinda said he was optimistic about the prospects for peace.

"All the signs are positive, the shops, office and schools are open, and life seems to be returning to normal," he said.

"The new president says he'll make it his program to consult and cooperate with all social forces. Having deplored the recent acts of vandalism, robbery and looting, we're now very optimistic."

Cardinal Philippe Ouedraogo has called for a week of prayers for "reconciliation, justice and peace" across Burkina Faso.