Anti-government protesters have stormed into Burkina Faso’s parliament ahead of a vote to allow the long-serving president another term in office.
Al Jazeera
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 the building.
Black smoke swirled in the air around parliament after demonstrators lit fires inside the building before looting computers and televisions screens and wheeling away police motorbikes, a Reuters reporter said.
The crowd headed towards the presidency as a government helicopter flew overhead, shooting teargas at protesters.
Lawmakers had been due to vote on Thursday on a government plan to change the constitution to allow President Blaise Compaore – who took power in a coup in 1987 – to stand for re-election again next year, when he was due to stand down.
Most deputies had not yet arrived for the vote when protesters, who had set up barricades outside parliament from early on Thursday, stormed the building.
Earlier on Thursday, thousands of protesters swarmed the streets of the capital, Ouagadougou, of the West African country.
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State television was ransacked and forced off the air.
Burkina Faso is typically known for relative stability and economic growth in a volatile region, but tensions have been rising ahead of a vote on a bill that would amend the constitution.
The protesters say that 27 years in power is enough for Compaore.
