Ouagadougou, Nov 17 (IANS/EFE): A council of elders announced Monday that it had chosen veteran diplomat Michel Kafando to serve as Burkina Faso's transitional president until elections are held in a year's time.

Kafando, 72, was elected "by consensus" of the council which is composed of around 20 representatives from the opposition, civil society, the military and religious leaders, media reported.

Following a long night of debate, the choice was made before dawn Monday, according to the news portal, Burkina 24.

In his first speech as interim president, Kafando said he would spare no effort to meet the challenge that has been entrusted to him which includes returning the landlocked and poverty-stricken central African nation to civilian rule.

His appointment still has to be validated by the High Court.

Kafando, was the ambassador of Upper Volta (the country's former name) to the UN between 1981 and 1982, and then had the same post after the country became Burkina Faso, from 1998 to 2011.

The new president was born in 1942 in Ouagadougou, received his undergraduate degree in the capital and then completed his graduate studies in law and political science in Dakar, Paris, Geneva and Bordeaux.

Kafando began his career as director of international cooperation in 1976, before becoming ambassador to the UN at its headquarters in New York.

After returning to politics as minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, he returned to New York for his second stint as ambassador.

On Sunday, the Burkinabe Army signed the Transition Charter and agreed with the opposition parties, civil society groups and religious leaders to lay the foundation for the new civilian transitional government.

The name of the new Burkina Faso prime minister is expected to be announced Wednesday.

The US and the European Union have opposed any military officer occupying any of the three main positions in the interim period -- the head of state, parliamentary speaker and prime minister.

But in order to achieve peace, the council agreed to give the post of the prime minister to a military figure as requested by the army.

Former Burkinabe president Blaise Compaoré resigned last month after massive protests following his attempt to force a change in the constitution that would have allowed him to run for a fifth term in the elections scheduled for next November.