A lieutenant colonel in Burkina Faso's presidential guard has declared himself the new head of state.
Yacouba Issac Zida said Saturday in a statement broadcast on the radio and posted on the Internet that he is assuming the "responsibilities of head of this transition and head of state to guarantee the continuity of the state."
Zida said: ``While waiting to define in a consensual manner, with all the political parties and civil society organizations, the content and the contours of this peaceful democratic transition, I assume from today the responsibilities of head of this transition and head of state to guarantee the continuity of the state. I call on the international community, in particularly countries that are friends and allies of Burkina Faso, notably in the African Union and ECOWAS, to demonstrate their understanding and support our people in this difficult time.''
The president of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore stepped down after protesters stormed parliament and set the building ablaze, ending his 27-year reign and sparking a struggle in the military for control of the West African country.
Confusion reigns in Ouagadougou
On Friday Zida, representing a group of junior army officers, said the group had "taken the destiny of the nation in hand" while the constitution was suspended and a transitional government was in formation.
But earlier Friday, General Honore Traore, head of Burkina Faso's military, said he was assuming "responsibilities as head of state."
It was not immediately clear if Traore accepted Zida's announcement Saturday or whether other army officers had approved Zida's move to become the new head of state.
In resigning Friday Mr. Compaore had called for a 90-day transition period leading to elections. He ruled the country for 27 years after seizing power in a 1987 coup.
Unrest had broken out Thursday as lawmakers prepared to vote on a constitutional amendment that would have allowed Mr. Compaore to run for another term.
The government withdrew the amendment after protests became violent.
