Protests in Burkina Faso spiraling out of control ·
Protests in Burkina Faso turned violent on Thursday as demonstrators stormed the country’s parliament building ahead of a planned vote that would have paved the way for extending the president’s 27-year rule.
The vote, which would have changed the West African country’s constitution to allow President Blaise Compaore to remain in office, was cancelled due to fierce opposition from the public.
Protesters in the capital city of Ouagadougou were seen dragging furniture and computers onto the street and setting the main parliament chamber ablaze. They swarmed other areas around the country, setting fire to several buildings and ransacking the offices of the national television station which is now off air.
Meanwhile the president appealed for calm in a tweet sent from his official account on Thursday. He tweeted: “Dear compatriots, I appeal for calm and serenity.”
from popafrica