Benewende Sankara

An opposition leader in Burkina Faso said Thursday that the army was “with the people” against the regime of President Blaise Compaore after the country was gripped by a wave of unrest.

Benewende Sankara, a leading light in the opposition that is protesting against plans to allow Compaore to extend his 27-year-rule, said he planned to meet retired general Kouame Lougue, a former defence minister and army chief, to discuss the crisis.

“The army is united with the people,” he said. “The opposition is demanding the resignation of President Blaise Compaore to enable calm to be restored.”

Riots broke out in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso, the two main cities today, with marchers demanding the resignation of Compaore.

In Ouagdougou, demonstrators breached a security cordon and invaded parliament, smashing window, burning cars and documents and torching parts of the complex. They also attacked the state TV office, damaging equipment and making it go off-air.

In Bobo Dioulasso, the headquarters of the ruling party was burnt along with the city hall by the protesters.