Burkina Faso's President Resigns After Riots, Army Takes Over

Burkina Faso's outgoing President

The president calls for elections within 90 days but does not say who will be in charge until then.

In a statement read on the country's news and television stations, Mr Compaore said: "I declare a vacancy of power with a view to allowing a transition that should finish with free and transparent elections in a maximum period of 90 days."

He did not say who would take power until but military chief General Honore Traore announced he has taken over as head of state.


Burkina Faso's parliament was dissolved on Thursday, however, and the military has been very visible during the recent crisis.

The official statement came just minutes after the army's Colonel Boureima Farta addressed thousands of protesters in front of the army headquarters saying: "As of today, Compaore is no longer in power."

Protesters take over the State Television

He was greeted with an outburst of cheering from the crowd in the former French colony.

Mr Compaore has been in power 27 years and had been seeking a change in the law to allow him to rule for longer.