A presenter on state TV in Burkina Faso has read out a letter purportedly written by President Roch Kaboré to announce his resignation after he was toppled in a coup.

The handwritten letter was shown on TV in a news bulletin on Monday night.

“With this letter, and in the best interest of the nation and following events that have taken place since yesterday [23 January], I have decided to resign from my position as president of Burkina Faso, head of the government, and supreme commander of the national armed forces.

“God bless Burkina Faso,” it said.

The letter was addressed to the “president of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration” or MPSR, the French acronym by which the junta is known

The coup was believed to have been led by Lt-Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.