Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, has been the scene of violent protests today, as demonstrators vent their anger over a proposal to extend President Blaise Compaore's 27-year rule. The storming of the parliament building today marked the culmination of several days of demonstrations. A reported 1,500 protesters ransacked offices and set buildings, documents, equipment, and vehicles ablaze. Security forces attempted to control the crowds using tear gas and live rounds. Emergency services said at least three protesters have been shot dead and several others wounded so far. Ouagadougou airport is now closed, and state TV is off the air. The violent reaction has led the government to scrap the planned presidential term extension, but opposition protesters are now calling for Compaore's resignation.
Protesters Storm, Burn Burkina Faso Parliament
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Protesters enter the parliament in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, on October 30, 2014. Hundreds of angry demonstrators stormed parliament on October 30 before setting it on fire in protest at plans to change the constitution to allow President Blaise Compaore to extend his 27-year rule. #
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Earlier this week, on October 28, 2014, Burkina Faso opposition supporters protested in Ouagadougou against plans to let the long-serving president extend his rule beyond 30 years. #
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Hundreds of demonstrators clash with police in Ouagadougou on October 28, 2014 after a mass rally. The violence erupted at the end of a march that drew up to a million people, according to opposition leaders fighting to prevent what they see as a constitutional coup by supporters of President Blaise Compaore. #
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On October 29, 2014, police hold hands to cordon off access to the parliament in Ouagadougou as people demonstrate against the high cost of living in Burkina Faso. Trade unions in Burkina Faso have called a general strike on October 29 following a day of protests against long-serving President Blaise Compaore that saw hundreds of thousands of people on the streets. #
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Smoke rises from Burkina Faso's Parliament, where demonstrators set cars on fire parked in a courtyard on October 30, 2014. Police had fired tear gas on protesters to try to prevent them from moving in on the National Assembly building ahead of a vote on the controversial legislation. #
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People stand in front of a fire in front of Burkina Faso's Parliament on October 30, 2014 in Ouagadougou. About 1,500 people managed to break through a security cordon, ransacking parliament, according to AFP correspondents. Protesters broke into offices, setting fire to documents and stealing computer equipment, and setting fire to cars outside. #
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An anti-government protester, bleeding from a gunshot wound, is helped by others in Ouagadougou on October 30, 2014. Emergency services said at least three protesters were shot dead and several others wounded by security forces when the crowd tried to storm the home of Compaore's brother. #
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An anti-government protester stands in front of a pool at a hotel where members of the parliament were said to be staying in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, October 30, 2014. Thousands of protesters marched on Burkina Faso's presidential palace after burning the parliament building and ransacking state television offices on Thursday, forcing President Blaise Compaore to scrap a plan to extend his 27-year rule. #
Reuters/Joe Penney
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