Police fired tear gas at rock-throwing protesters after tens of thousands of people marched through Burkina Faso's capital yesterday calling for President Blaise Compaore to abandon plans to change term limits to stay in power.
An early morning march through the heart of Ouagadougou, where many businesses closed their shutters in anticipation of the protest, was peaceful. But clashes erupted later as protesters tried to advance towards the National Assembly.
Yesterday marked the start of a campaign of civil disobedience announced by opposition parties after the government asked the National Assembly to order a referendum on changing the constitution to allow Compaore to stand for re-election next year, when he is due to stand down.
"The people have decided to start a general popular resistance.
"The first grievance is to get the withdrawal, pure and simple, of this legal project," Zephirin Diabre, head of the opposition delegation, told the crowd.
A government spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
Protesters chanted "Step aside!" and "Don't touch Article 37", referring to the clause in the constitution that needs changing to allow Compaore, who has been in power for 27 years, to stand again next year.
Others carried banners comparing Compaore to Ebola.
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