Taiwan closely monitoring Burkina Faso's political turmoil: officials

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Taipei, Nov. 2 (CNA) Taiwan is paying close attention to the political turmoil in Burkina Faso caused by violent protests against a Constitution amendment bill that was seeking to extend the 27-year rule of President Blaise Compaore, officials at Taiwan's foreign ministry said Sunday. Compaore, however, has been forced to step down and Burkina Faso is trying to put together a transitional government, the foreign affairs officials noted. Taiwan remains in contact with authorities in Burkina Faso, one of Taiwan's 22 diplomatic allies, the officials said. The political upheaval in the West African country has not affected its diplomatic links with Taiwan, the officials added. According to foreign news reports, thousands of protestors stormed the Burkina Faso parliament in the capital Ouagadougou on Oct.30 and set it ablaze, then also stormed the building of the state television network and ransacked it. Compaore, who had been in power since 1987, later announced that he had stepped down as president. The demonstrations were spurred by a scheduled parliamentary vote Thursday morning on a government proposal to amend the Constitution to allow Compaore to stand for re-election next year, when he was due to stand down. In an early morning radio address Saturday, Colonel Isaac Zida, deputy commander of the elite presidential guard, declared himself interim president. His statement overruled General Honore Traore's claim that Traore was leading a transitional government following Compaore's departure, according to foreign wire reports. Taiwan's foreign ministry said that amid concerns by the United States and European countries, Burkina Faso is now working to set up a transitional government. (By Tang Pei-chun and Elizabeth Hsu)