Rioting As Burkina Faso Parliament Set Alight

Protesters have set fire to Burkina Faso's parliament, forcing the government to scrap plans to let the country's leader extend his 27-year rule.

The National Assembly building in the capital Ouagadougou was stormed by hundreds of people before they moved on towards the presidential palace.

Five people were reportedly killed in the chaos, which saw offices ransacked, cars set alight and the national television headquarters attacked.

The city hall and ruling party headquarters were in flames and the airport has been closed.

Crowds at the presidential palace were held back by troops from the presidential guard who fired warning shots into the air.

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Gallery: Deadly Violence In Burkina Faso Protests

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Burkina Faso forcing President Blaise Compaore to scrap a plan to extend his 27-year rule
At least three protesters have been shot dead and several others wounded in the violence
The unrest has seen the parliament building set on fire and and state television offices ransacked
The government had proposed to change the law so that the president can be re-elected twice, sparking concerns other leaders in the region could follow suit
An anti-government protester suffered a gunshot wound in the capital Ouagadougou
The state television offices were taken over by demonstrators
The parliament building was also occupied before being torched
Demonstrators are demanding the president steps down

Elsewhere, however, police failed to keep order, despite using tear gas on the protesters.

Dozens of soldiers reportedly joined the protests, including former defence minister General Kouame Lougue, while the main opposition leader, Zephirin Diabre, has called on the military to side with "the people".

Emile Pargui Pare, an official from the opposition Movement of People for Progress, said: "October 30 is Burkina Faso's Black Spring, like the Arab Spring."

Benewende Sankara, one of the protest leaders, said: "The president must deal with the consequences."

The riots took place just before the country's politicians were due to vote on a law that would allow President Blaise Compaore, who took power in the coup of 1987, to run for election next year.

The legislation had angered residents of Burkina Faso, which is a former French colony.

With a very young population - 60% are aged under 25 - many of the country's 17 million citizens have spent their entire lives under the rule of Mr Compaore.

Constitutional limits were brought in during 2005 and Mr Compaore, who has already been re-elected four times, is coming to the end of his second five-year term. The other two terms were for seven years.

The rules to be voted on could have allowed him to stay in power for another 15 years.

Later, the government reacted to the violence by announcing the vote had been called off. It did not say whether this was a postponement or a cancellation.

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