Burkina Faso's Parliament Ablaze by mob

Thousands of protesters stormed Burkina Faso's parliament on Thursday and set fire to the building.

The crowd then headed towards the prime minister's office as a government helicopter flew overhead, shooting tear gas canisters at protesters.

Lawmakers had been due to vote on Thursday a plan proposed by the government to change the constitution to allow President Blaise Compaore stand for re-election next year, when he was due to stand down due to a two-term limit. Most deputies had not yet arrived for the vote when protesters entered the building. "We did this because Blaise was trying to stay too long. We are tired of him," said Seydou Kabre, a protester in the crowd headed to the prime minister's office. "We want a change. He must go!" Security forces protecting the house of Compaore's brother opened fire as demonstrators tried to attack the building, leaving three bodies lying motionless on the ground, a witness said.

Burkina Faso opposition supporters protest in Ouagadougou on October 28, 2014 against plans to let the long-serving president extend his rule beyond 30 years. Firing tear gas, security forces charged the protesters after they apparently ventured too close to the national parliament. Most of the demonstrators fled but several hundred stayed on to battle the police.

Compaore has been in power since 1987, following a coup that ousted and killed Socialist president Thomas Sankara, and has won subsequent elections after opposition parties boycotted them. Although Burkina Faso has term limits set at two five-year terms, they have only been in effect since 2000 and were not retroactive. As a result, his current term is set to expire next year.