Burkina Faso Blaise
President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, announced he will step down Reuters

Burkina Faso president Blaise Compaore has announced he has stepped down from office following days of street protests against his plans to seek a fifth term.

In a statement read out on national television on Friday (31 October), Compaore said that elections would be held in 90 days.

There were cheers when an army spokesman made the announcement to a crowd gathered in front of army headquarters, AFP news agency reported.

Protesters had stormed the parliament building in the capital of Ouagadougou, set part of it ablaze and ransacked state television offices in a day of violence around the country to stop a parliamentary vote that would have allowed Compaore to stand again.

Violence resulted in at least 30 people dead and 100 injured.

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