Blaise Compaore booted out

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BlaiseBurkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore is no longer in power, an army spokesman has told demonstrators in the capital, Ouagadougou.

Mr Compaore had earlier said he would step down after a 12-month transitional government had ended.

However, the opposition continued to demand that he resign, angry at his attempts to amend the constitution and extend his 27-year rule.

On Thursday, protesters set fire to parliament and government buildings.

Early on Burkina Faso president defied calls to step down.

A resident told the BBC yesterday that he saw MPs? homes on fire, reports Lebo Diseko

Burkina Faso?s President Blaise Compaore says he will stay in power for a year under a transitional government, following a day of violent protests demanding his resignation.

Earlier, demonstrators angered by his bid to extend his 27-year rule torched parliament and government buildings.

Mr Compaore said he would hand over power once the transitional government had completed its 12-month term.

He also said he was lifting a ?state of siege? he had declared earlier.

In the previous announcement, Mr Compaore called for the military to implement emergency measures.

This was followed by a press conference where army chief General Honore Traore announced that a ?transitional body [would] be put in place in consultation with all parties?.

?A return to the constitutional order is expected in no more than 12 months,? he said.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon?s special envoy for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, will fly to Burkina Faso on Friday to try to ease the crisis, the UN said.

Analysis: Thomas Fessy, BBC West Africa correspondent

The president said he was ready to open a political dialogue to set the terms of a transitional government that he would lead until the next presidential election. His current term ends in November next year, so staying in power now would be legal.

But would he be legitimate?

Opposition leaders and protesters say no. They want him to step down now.

President Compaore appeared to want to calm things down but he spoke like a man who still wants to decide when he goes.

That could be the recipe for more unrest.

Source-BBC

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