Ouborr Kutando in Ouagadougou emails: I am in Burkina Faso for a conference at the defunct Azalai Hotel.

A couple of us were in my room watching the demonstrators live. Gradually they trooped in the hotel and the looting begun. The hotel was stripped of everything from tea cups to air conditioners.

As the looting continued, we could hear them break room to room and when they got to my room, they pounded the door and met four of us frightened and waiting. Because they had not expected to see us, they panicked and asked us for money.

As I became a sitting duck in my room, all I could say was that, this presents great lessons for political sociology in African politics. Most of the looters were the youth who had spent all their life under Blaise.

There are scenes of jubilation in parts of Ouagadougou following the resignation of President Compaore, with residents beeping their car horns and chanting.

Image source, AFP

James Copnall
BBC News

Yet over time Mr Compaore oversaw a startling transformation of his image, internationally at least. This inflammatory figure became a man relied upon to put out fires around the region. Over the years, he won a series of elections, though the opposition always complained that the odds were stacked dramatically in the president's favour.

James Copnall
BBC News

"Controversy would be a perpetual feature of Blaise Compaore's time in power. The president was accused of stoking rebellions around West Africa. His name still provokes strong feelings in Sierra Leone and elsewhere."

Lamine Konkobo
BBC News

reports : "I've been on the phone to a source in Ouagadougou. The President has stepped down and he has not stepped down to stay around, he has stepped down and he is on the move. And according to that source he might have crossed the border with Ghana. And he was heading towards Po which is a city somewhere near the border with Ghana."

Former colonial power France welcomes the resignation of President Compaore, reiterating its "support for the constitution and thus for early, democratic elections".

During protests this week, many in the crowd have been carrying posters of Thomas Sankara, the late president of Burkina Faso. Blaise Compaore took over power after Mr Sankara was killed in mysterious circumstances by a group of soldiers in 1987. Sometimes known as "Africa's Che Guevara", the BBC's Alex Duval Smith has looked at Sankara's enduring appeal

Image source, AFP

The European Union has weighed in on the crisis in Burkina Faso, calling on people there to have the final say in who governs the West African country, AFP reports. It has also offered its help with organising elections.

Armed forces chief General Honore Traore has announced that he is taking charge, following President Blaise Compaore's resignation.

The Twitter account of Blaise Compaore, external has been posting excerpts from his statement, including calls for elections to be held within 90 days and an appeal for all citizens to remain calm.

tweets:, external You spend 27 years struggling to maintain your power base.. It takes just a day to send u packing.. We cant make these stuff up #BurkinaFaso

tweets:, external At press conference just now chief of defense staff honoré traoré announced resignation of blaise himself as president #burkina #lwili

Army chief General Honore Traore is to take over as head of state, Reuters reports.

Opposition parties had earlier urged protesters to return to the streets of Ouagadougou, a day after they ransacked parliament and set it alight.

Image source, Reuters

While Blaise Compaore's whereabouts remain unknown, Reuters reports that a heavily armed convoy believed to be carrying the ex-president was seen travelling near Burkina Faso's border with Ghana, in the southern town of Po.

An army officer from the presidential guard earlier announced Mr Compaore's departure to thousands of protesters in the central Place de la Nation. They reportedly responded with cheers.

Blaise Compaore had been in power since 1987, after his predecessor, Thomas Sankara, was killed in mysterious circumstances by a group of soldiers.

Image source, Reuters

In a presidential statement broadcast by local media, Mr Compaore declared a "power vacuum" in the country and called for "free and transparent" elections within 90 days.

Welcome to the BBC's live updates on the unravelling situation in Burkina Faso, where President Blaise Compaore has just announced his resignation in response to violent protests against his attempts to extend his 27-year-rule.