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Burkina Faso unrest: President Blaise Compaore resigns | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore has announced his resignation, following violent protests at his attempt to extend his 27-year rule. | |
Mr Compaore issued a statement saying the presidency was now vacant and urging elections within 90 days. | |
An army spokesman also broke the news to cheering demonstrators in the capital, Ouagadougou. | |
On Thursday, protesters angry at Mr Compaore's attempt to amend the constitution set fire to parliament. | |
Following the protests, Mr Compaore said he had agreed not to seek another term, but that he would remain in power until a transitional government had completed its work in 2015. | |
However, the opposition continued to demand that he resign. Its leader, Zephirin Diabre, urged protesters to occupy public spaces. | |
There were cheers when the army spokesman told the crowd gathered in front of army headquarters on Friday that Mr Compaore had left office, AFP news agency reports. | |
Mr Compaore's statement, read on television, said there was now a "power vacuum" and called for "free and transparent" elections within 90 days. | |
His whereabouts now remain unclear. | |
Late on Thursday, army chief Gen Honore Traore had announced the creation of the transitional government, declared the dissolution of parliament and imposed a night curfew. | |
Blaise Compaore | |
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