Protesters angry at plans to allow Burkina Faso’s President Blaise Compaore to extend his 27-year-rule have stormed parliament in the capital, Ouagadougou.
The military has opened fire in an attempt to disperse the protesters, a BBC reporter in the city says.
Burkina Faso’s parliament is due to consider a constitutional amendment to open the way for Mr Compaore to contest elections next year.
He first took power in a coup in 1987.
He has won four disputed elections since then.
The opposition has called for a campaign of civil disobedience to demand that he steps down next year.
Some young protesters have entered parliament and the army has responded by firing live bullets, reports the BBC’s Yacouba Ouedraogo from Ouagadougou.
Police were forced to withdraw after the protesters stormed the building, Reuters news agency quotes a witness as saying.
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BBC