Update - Burkina Faso Parliament Set Ablaze By Protesters

Protesters set fire to the parliament building in Burkina Faso on Thursday to protest a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow President Blaise Compaore to seek a third five-year term in office.



Angry protesters stormed the parliament building in capital Ouagadougou and ransacked it, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter.



Demonstrators also ransacked the state television building and the headquarters of the ruling Congress for Democracy and Progress party in the Burkinabe capital.



The massive demonstration followed opposition calls for "civil disobedience" to protest the proposed amendment, which had been scheduled to be put before a Thursday parliamentary vote.



A government promise to withdraw the controversial amendment failed to appease protesters, with demonstrators going on a looting spree across the capital.



The Burkinabe government has yet to comment on the widespread looting in the capital.



The controversial government-proposed amendment would increase to three the maximum number of five-year presidential terms available to a single individual, opening the door for Compaore – in power since 1987 – to seek reelection next year.



For several weeks, the 63-year-old leader's bid to remain in power after 27 years at the helm has drawn angry reactions from the opposition, civil society and many young people.



More than 60 percent of Burkina Faso's 17 million-strong population is under 25 years old and has never known another president.



By Lougri Dimtalba



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