Burkina President quits; Army rules

The country’s army chief Navere Honore Traore said he was taking power as Mr Compaore announced his resignation. The President’s resignation came as tens of thousands of protesters demanded that he quit immediately after a day of unrest that saw mass protests and the storming of parliament and other public buildings.

Some have drawn a parallel between the protests and the Arab Spring revolution, and the situation is being closely watched across Africa where at least four heads of are preparing or considering similar changes to stay in power.

“In order to preserve the democratic gains, as well as social peace, I declare a power vacuum to allow the establishment of a transition leading to free and fair elections within a maximum of 90 days,” Mr Compaore said in a statement.

Assuming power, Mr Traore said: “In line with constitutional measures, and given the power vacuum... I will assume as of today my responsibilities as head of state.”

News of Mr Compaore’s departure had initially come from an army officer hoisted on the shoulders of comrades in front of the army headquarters in Ouagadougou, the capital of the landlocked west African nation.

“Compaore is no longer in power,” Colonel Boureima Farta told a crowd of thousands, who erupted into cheers.