Burkina Faso state of emergency after riots

Ouagadougou - A spokesperson says the president of Burkina Faso has declared a state of emergency following violent protests in the capital.

Communications director Ibrahim Sakande made the announcement late on Thursday, hours after demonstrators stormed the parliament building and set fire to its main chamber.

It was not immediately clear where President Blaise Compaore was, nor what restrictions were being imposed as a result of the state of emergency.

The protesters were angered by a parliamentary vote that they thought was going to give Compaore, who has been in power for 27 years, the chance to run for a fifth term next year.

The vote did not take place but that did little to calm tensions.

Crowds also attacked the homes of government ministers and looted shops in the country's second-largest city.