Burkina Faso’s army chief announced he had taken power in the country following the resignation of longtime president Blaise Compaore.

General Honore Traore told reporters in Ouagadougou Friday that he is in charge of the West African nation. 

Traore first exerted power on Thursday, when he announced plans for a transitional government and ordered a dusk-to-dawn curfew after violent protests in the cqapital against Compaore.

Local media broadcast a resignation statement in which Compaore called for a 90-day transition leading to “free and transparent” elections.

Former colonial power France quickly said it welcomes the resignation.

“France recalls its support for the constitution and thus for early, democratic elections,” it said in a statement issued by President Francois Hollande’s office.

Burkina24 television reported that Compaore left his palace in a heavily armed convoy.

Compaore ruled Burkina Faso for 27 years after seizing power in a 1987 coup.

Proposed legislation

Unrest broke out Thursday as lawmakers prepared to vote on a constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to run for another term. 

The government withdrew the amendment after hundreds of protesters stormed and set fire to the parliament building.

The United Nations says Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “is following with great concern the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso” and calling on all parties “to end the use of violence, exercise calm and restraint, and use dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues.”

Lieutenant-Colonel Issaac Zida of the presidential guard had earlier announced Compaore’s departure in the central Place de la Nation in Ouagadougou to cheering from tens of thousands of protesters.

Thousands of protesters had returned to the streets on Friday, a day after demonstrators stormed and set fire to parliament.

Some material for this report came from Reuters.
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