Summary Army Gen. Honore Traore, the joint chief of staff, has assumed power, state radio announced.
OUAGADOUGOU (AP) - An army general took power in Burkina Faso Friday after President Blaise Compaore stepped down, ending 27 years as the country s leader.
Compaore was forced out of office by a burst of violent protests in which parliament was set ablaze. The protesters refused to accept anything short of Compaore s immediate resignation.
Opposition protesters gathered in a square in the capital burst into cheers when they heard the announcement of Compaore s resignation on hand-held radios. They had been massing for a second day to push for Compaore to leave after a day of unrest had already persuaded the longtime leader not to run again for election.
