– Opposition says army in ‘coup’ –
A leading opposition member, Benewende Sankara, described the army’s move as a “coup” and said protesters would accept nothing less than the president’s immediate resignation.
Compaore “is again in the process of duping the people,” he said. “We have been saying for a long time that he must hand in his resignation. His departure is non-negotiable.”
Sankara and another opposition leader gave the death toll from the violence as “around 30”. AFP was only able to confirm four deaths and six seriously injured, based partly on reports from the capital’s main hospital.
The chaos erupted this week as lawmakers prepared to vote on legislation that would allow 63-year-old Compaore – who took power in a 1987 coup – to contest elections in November 2015.
The lawmakers called off the vote, but not before Burkina Faso plunged into its worst crisis since a wave of mutinies shook the country in 2011.
Black smoke billowed out of smashed windows at the parliament building on Thursday, where several offices were ravaged by flames.
Several hundred protesters also broke into the headquarters of the national television station RTB, pillaging equipment and smashing cars, AFP correspondents said.
The ruling party headquarters in the second city of Bobo Dioulasso and the city hall were also torched by protesters, witnesses said.
The United States welcomed Compaore’s apparent decision to abandon his bid for another term.
“We also welcome his decision to form a government of national unity to prepare for national elections and to transfer power to a democratically elected successor,” said State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki in a statement.
Former colonial power France appealed for calm and said it “deplored” the violence.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon dispatched a special envoy to help restore calm and the European Union called for an end to the violence.
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