'Non-negotiable' departure

Despite President Blaise Compaore's refusal to immediately resign from his 27-year rule in West African Burkina Faso, the leader of the opposition party, Benewende Sankara, has insisted that Compaore's departure is "non-negotiable."

"[Compaore] is again in the process of duping the people," Sankara told AFP news agency, "We have been saying for a long time that he must hand in his resignation," he added.

Constitution amendment

In an open letter, late on Thursday, Compaore, who seized power by means of a coup in 1987, defied calls for his immediate resignation, but confirmed that plans to amend the constitution, which would allow him to run for a fifth term in office, have been dropped.

"With regard to myself, I am available to open talks on a transitional period at the end of which I will hand over power," Compaore said in the statement broadcast on BF1 TV on Thursday night.

Since Tuesday, protesters have been demonstrating in the country's capital of Ouagadougou against Compaore's proposed constitutional amendment which had angered much of the public, including many young people, in a country where 60 percent of the population is under 25.

Burning parliament

On Thursday, thousands - including about 500 soldiers from the capital's main barracks - poured onto the capital city's streets, with many storming Burkina Faso's parliament building.

Smoke and fire were seen rising from the building, after protesters managed to break through a security cordon, and charged through offices, setting fire to documents and burning cars outside.

State television and radio also ceased broadcasting after they too were attacked.

According to opposition figures, the uprising against Compaore has left approximately 30 dead and 100 injured.

ksb/dj (AFP, Reuters)