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Thursday, 30 October 2014

Protesters burn government building in Burkina Faso.

Anti-government protesters in Burkina Faso have set parliament building ablaze in a surge of violence that forced the government to at least temporarily scrap a vote on constitutional amendments that would allow President Blaise Compaore to extend his 27-year rule, Reuters reported.At least one person was killed in Thursday's violence, according to news agencies. Hundreds of people broke through a heavy security cordon and stormed the National Assembly building in the capital Ouagadougou, ransacking offices and setting fire to cars, before attacking the national television headquarters. Police had tried to control the crowds using tear gas, but the demonstrators were able to push through the barricades and make their way into parliament. The crowd then headed towards the presidential palace as a government helicopter flew overhead, shooting teargas at protesters. Security forces fired live rounds and tear gas at protesters near the presidency in the Ouaga 2000 neighbourhood. Lawmakers had been due to vote on Thursday on a government plan to change the constitution to allow Compaore who took power in a coup in 1987 to re-contest next year, when he was due to stand down.

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