OUAGADOUGOU - President Blaise Compaore declared a state of emergency in Burkina Faso on Thursday after a day of violent protests against plans to extend his 27-year-rule, according to a document seen by AFP.
Cars and documents burn outside the parliament in Ouagadougou on October 30, 2014
"A state of emergency has been declared throughout the country. The army chief of staff is charged with carrying out this decree, which enters into force from this day," a statement from the presidency read. The document was not dated and carried a signature that did not resemble the president's usual one.