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Burkina Faso parliament set ablaze Burkina Faso parliament set ablaze
(about 1 hour later)
Protesters angry at plans to allow Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore to extend his 27-year-rule have set fire to parliament.Protesters angry at plans to allow Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore to extend his 27-year-rule have set fire to parliament.
The BBC's Laeila Adjovi in the capital, Ouagadougou, say the city hall and ruling party headquarters are also in flames.The BBC's Laeila Adjovi in the capital, Ouagadougou, say the city hall and ruling party headquarters are also in flames.
Earlier, the military reportedly fired at protesters who stormed parliament. The security forces fired tear gas from a helicopter as a crowd surged towards the presidency.
Tear gas was also fired from a helicopter, as a crowd surged towards the presidency, reports say. MPs have suspended a vote to allow Mr Compaore to stand for re-election.
Parliament was due to consider changing the constitution so that Mr Compaore, 63, could run for office again in elections next year. One person has been killed in the protests, reports the BBC's Yacouba Ouedraogo from the capital.
A government minister could not confirm reports that the constitutional amendment has been withdrawn, Reuters news agency reports.
Mr Compaore first took power in a coup in 1987, and has won four disputed elections since then.Mr Compaore first took power in a coup in 1987, and has won four disputed elections since then.
The opposition has called for a campaign of civil disobedience to demand that he steps down. The opposition has called for a campaign of civil disobedience to demand that he steps down in elections next year.
"October 30 is Burkina Faso's Black Spring, like the Arab Spring," opposition activist Emile Pargui Pare told AFP news agency."October 30 is Burkina Faso's Black Spring, like the Arab Spring," opposition activist Emile Pargui Pare told AFP news agency.
State television has gone off air after protesters stormed the building housing it and ransacked it, Reuters quotes a witness as saying.State television has gone off air after protesters stormed the building housing it and ransacked it, Reuters quotes a witness as saying.
Smoke could be seen billowing from parliament.Smoke could be seen billowing from parliament.
Police had earlier fired tear gas to prevent protesters from moving in on the parliamentary building.Police had earlier fired tear gas to prevent protesters from moving in on the parliamentary building.
But about 1,500 people managed to breach the security cordon and were ransacking parliament, AFP reports.But about 1,500 people managed to breach the security cordon and were ransacking parliament, AFP reports.
Protesters were setting fire to documents and stealing computer equipment; cars outside the building are also on fire, it reports. Protesters were setting fire to documents and stealing computer equipment and cars outside the building were also set on fire, it reports.
Blaise Compaore
The government has been forced to suspend Thursday's parliamentary vote on a constitutional amendment that would have lifted the limit on presidential terms so that Mr Compaore could run for office next year.
It is not clear whether the government intends to hold the vote at a later stage, correspondents say.
Mr Compaore is a staunch ally of the US and France, which uses Burkina Faso as a base for military operations against militant Islamists in the Sahel region.Mr Compaore is a staunch ally of the US and France, which uses Burkina Faso as a base for military operations against militant Islamists in the Sahel region.
Both France and the European Union (EU) have called on him to scrap the proposed constitutional amendment.Both France and the European Union (EU) have called on him to scrap the proposed constitutional amendment.
The EU said it could jeopardise Burkina Faso's stability. The US has also raised concern about the proposed amendment.The EU said it could jeopardise Burkina Faso's stability. The US has also raised concern about the proposed amendment.
Are you in Ouagadougou? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Ouagadougou? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
If you are willing to be contacted by BBC journalists please include a telephone number.If you are willing to be contacted by BBC journalists please include a telephone number.