Rally calls on Burkina Faso president to run

Rally comes after defections of ruling party officials over worries President Blaise Compaore would seek re-election.

Blaise Compaore has been in power since 1987 [Reuters]

Thousands of supporters of Burkina Faso’s longtime president are calling for a constitutional amendment so the leader
of the West African nation can seek another term.

Organisers said a rally on Saturday drew about 50,000 supporters of President Blaise Compaore’s ruling party and affiliated parties.

The rally comes after a series of defections of high-level officials from the ruling party over concerns that Compaore would try to change the constitution in order to run for another term next year.

The defectors have set up their own political party, raising tensions in a country known for its relative stability and economic growth in a volatile region.

Compaore has been in power since 1987. A provision in the constitution bars him from running again when his current term expires in 2015.

Source: AP