Burkina Faso army boss steps in to rule

The head of Burkina Faso’s armed forces has taken power after President Blaise Compaore resigned amid mass demonstrations against an attempt to extend his 27-year rule in the West African country.

Compaore, who seized power in a 1987 coup, had attempted to defy popular pressure for him to step down after a day of violent protests on Thursday in which demonstrators stormed parliament and state television.

However, with hundreds of thousands of protesters packing the streets of the capital Ouagadougou for a second day and no sign of international support for him staying on, Compaore announced his resignation.