This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/world/africa/burkina-faso-unrest-blaise-compaore.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
In Tense Burkina Faso, Protesters Press President to Step Down Immediately Blaise Compaoré Steps Down as Burkina Faso President, Ceding to Protesters
(35 minutes later)
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — After violent protests in which demonstrators set fire to Parliament and surged through the streets in a wave of dissent, opposition leaders in Burkina Faso urged their followers on Friday to “keep up the pressure” on President Blaise Compaoré, rejecting an offer of negotiations and calling for his immediate ouster — “pure and simple.” OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — After violent protests in which demonstrators set fire to Parliament and surged through the streets in a wave of dissent, Blaise Compaoré, the president of Burkina Faso, said Friday that he had stepped down after 27 years in office, according to news reports from the West African nation.
The call sharpened the confrontation between Mr. Compaoré and his adversaries on the streets of the capital, Ouagadougou, who have thrown down the most serious challenge so far to his 27-year rule, igniting worries across the region. Reuters reported that a heavily armed convoy carrying the president was seen leaving the capital and heading south toward Po, near the border with Ghana, even as his resignation announcement was being read out on television. It was not clear who would replace him.
A statement signed by 34 opposition parties came hours after the president said he had “heard the message” from the protesters and understood “the strong desire for change.” The announcement came on the fourth day of turmoil in Ouagadougou, the capital, which culminated in a closed-door gathering of military commanders.
Mr. Compaoré had offered negotiations on a transitional government leading to the election of a successor. But opposition leaders urged their followers on Friday to “keep up the pressure,” rejecting his blandishments and calling for his immediate ouster — “pure and simple.”
Earlier on Friday, huge crowds gathered in Ouagadougou, where senior army officers met to decide their next step. One officer, who was not identified by name, told protesters that the “army is henceforth at the side of the people.”
News agencies quoted an announcement from the president as saying he had stepped down in face of the protests and calling for elections within 90 days.
Overnight, the president said he had “heard the message” from the protesters and understood “the strong desire for change.”
In a televised statement late Thursday, Mr. Compaoré rescinded a declaration of martial law, made only hours earlier, and offered negotiations on “a transitional period at the end of which I will hand over power to the democratically elected president.”In a televised statement late Thursday, Mr. Compaoré rescinded a declaration of martial law, made only hours earlier, and offered negotiations on “a transitional period at the end of which I will hand over power to the democratically elected president.”
He also abandoned plans to change the Constitution in order to run for office again next year — the issue that has ignited days of protest. But he rejected calls for his immediate resignation.He also abandoned plans to change the Constitution in order to run for office again next year — the issue that has ignited days of protest. But he rejected calls for his immediate resignation.
On Friday, protesters gathered for the fourth straight day in the capital of this impoverished West African nation, urging the military to sweep Mr. Compaoré from office. Demonstrators looted at least two banks and ransacked many stories, residents said. On Friday, protesters in the capital of this impoverished West African nation urged the military to sweep Mr. Compaoré from office. Demonstrators looted at least two banks and ransacked many stores, residents said.
Opposition politicians appealed to their followers to “keep up the pressure by systematically occupying the public space.”Opposition politicians appealed to their followers to “keep up the pressure by systematically occupying the public space.”
Rejecting Mr. Compaoré's offer of talks, the opposition groups also said the “precondition for any discussion of a political transition is the unconditional departure, pure and simple, of Mr. Blaise Compaoré.” Rejecting Mr. Compaoré's offer of talks, 34 opposition groups also said the “precondition for any discussion of a political transition is the unconditional departure, pure and simple, of Mr. Blaise Compaoré.”
Opposition to the president’s plans for another term had been building for weeks. Anger exploded Thursday as protesters stormed the Parliament building, bursting past police lines to prevent lawmakers from voting on a draft law that would have allowed Mr. Compaoré to run again next year. Opposition to the president’s plans for another term had been building for weeks.
Anger exploded Thursday as protesters stormed the Parliament building, bursting past police lines to prevent lawmakers from voting on a draft law that would have allowed Mr. Compaoré to run again next year.
Thousands rampaged through Ouagadougou, burning the homes of presidential aides and relatives and looting state broadcasting facilities. Social media sites showed images of demonstrators toppling a statue of Mr. Compaoré.Thousands rampaged through Ouagadougou, burning the homes of presidential aides and relatives and looting state broadcasting facilities. Social media sites showed images of demonstrators toppling a statue of Mr. Compaoré.
The violence set off a series of decrees from the embattled president, who declared martial law, permitting the military to suspend both the Parliament and the government, and to inaugurate a 12-month transition to elections under an interim government.The violence set off a series of decrees from the embattled president, who declared martial law, permitting the military to suspend both the Parliament and the government, and to inaugurate a 12-month transition to elections under an interim government.
Opposition leaders called his actions a coup.Opposition leaders called his actions a coup.
In his statement late Thursday, Mr. Compaoré, a former army officer who seized power in a coup in 1987 and ranks among Africa’s longest-serving leaders, said that the government would remain “dissolved,” but that martial law would be “canceled.”In his statement late Thursday, Mr. Compaoré, a former army officer who seized power in a coup in 1987 and ranks among Africa’s longest-serving leaders, said that the government would remain “dissolved,” but that martial law would be “canceled.”