Spokesman for the Burkinabe army Izaac Zida declared himself interim president on Friday and suspended the country’s 1991 Constitution.

“Following the resignation of Blaise Compaore as president, we, the lifeblood of the nation, and at the request of the people of Burkina Faso, have decided to suspend the 1991 Constitution,” Zida said in a statement.

“A transitional body will be set up in accordance with all national forces to organise a transition that will lead to the return of normal constitutional life,” he added.

“We call on all forces in the country to remain calm and to trust us to preserve the integrity of citizens and property,” the statement read.

“We also call on all defence and security forces to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of people and property throughout the territory,” it added.

The surprise announcement came moments after army chief Gen. Honore Nabere Traore declared he would assume executive power following Compaore’s resignation earlier Friday.

“The National Armed Forces took note of the resignation of the president in accordance with the provisions of the constitution,” Traore asserted in a Friday statement.

“Given the power vacuum created and considering the urgent need to save the nation… I [declare that I] will assume from this day the responsibilities of the head of state,” the general added.

The release was issued shortly after Compaore had said he was stepping down from the presidency.

“I declare a power vacuum to allow the immediate establishment of a transition leading to free and fair elections within a maximum period of 90 days,” Compaore had said in a presidential statement.

Compaore later left for the country’s southeast en route to Ghana, a well-informed source told Anadolu Agency.

The developments come one day after tens of thousands of Burkinabes took to the streets of capital Ouagadougou to demand Compaore’s resignation.

The angry protests came against the backdrop of a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed Compaore to seek a third five-year term as president.

The country’s current national charter limits the number of presidential terms to two.

Protesters on Thursday had set fire to the parliament building and the homes of several senior officials in Ouagadougou, according to an AA correspondent.

They also stormed the headquarters of the state television building before marching on the presidential palace.

At least 30 deaths were reported in Thursday clashes between security forces and protesters.

Before Compaore stepped down, the government had offered to withdraw the controversial amendment proposal, but the move failed to appease protesters who went on a looting spree across the capital.

For several weeks, the 63-year-old leader’s bid to remain in power – after 27 years at the helm – has drawn angry reactions from the opposition, civil society and many young people.

More than 60 percent of Burkina Faso’s roughly 17 million-strong population is under 25 years old and has therefore never known a president other than Compaore.

•Photo shows Burkina Faso’s army chief, Gen. Honore Nabere Traore, who previously declared self president following Compaore’s ouster.

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