OUAGADOUGOU, Apr 15 – Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore left the capital Ouagadougou early on Friday amid a mutiny by his personal guard that has spread to other barracks, a military source said.
Compaore left during the night for his hometown Ziniare, some 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Ouagadougou, the source said.
The mutiny began in the presidential palace grounds late Thursday after new popular protests against Compoare\’s 24-year-old regime in the landlocked west African country.
Small and heavy arms fire, which was clearly audible outside the compound, first came from the barracks of the elite and well-paid presidential guard before spreading to other barracks and military camps, an AFP journalist reported.
The guard were protesting the non-payment of a promised housing benefit.
The home of General Dominique Diendiere, Compaore\’s personal chief of staff, was burned down, the AFP journalist said, adding that soldiers looted many consumer goods stores in the capital.
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