OUAGADOUGOU (Reuters) - Thousands, many blowing whistles and horns, marched through Ouagadougou for a second day on Wednesday and the United States joined an outcry against President Blaise Compaore's plan to stand for re-election in Burkina Faso.
Mainly organised by the labour unions, Wednesday's marchers again took aim at Compaore's move to rejig the constitution so he can stay in power and were also protesting about the high cost of living and privatisation of schools.
Chrysogone Zougmore, spokesman for the protest organisers, said, ?Any project that has as its aim to allow Blaise Compaore to rule for life poses a serious threat to the peace and democratic freedoms of our country. Compaore?s mandate comes to an end in November 2015 and he will have to leave.?
Compaore's firm grip on this cotton and gold producer has suffered from high-level defections within his party over the past few months due to the plan. Army protests in 2011 showed the potential for unrest in one of the world's poorest nations.
The political crisis spilled out onto the streets on Tuesday in a campaign of civil disobedience called by opposition parties who want to prevent the referendum being held.
Hours later, the U.S. State Department said it was "concerned by the spirit and intent behind" the proposed changes that would allow Compaore, who has been in power for 27 years, to run for election in 2015, when he is meant to stand down.
Burkina Faso is a key U.S. ally in West Africa in the fight against al Qaeda-linked fighters operating in the Sahel-Sahara band. It also frequently mediates in regional conflicts.
France, which has Special Forces troops based in the country, said on Tuesday it expected Compaore to adhere to the laws drawn up by peers at the African Union and not push through the constitutional amendments.
Later on Tuesday, the U.S. issued a statement saying, "The United States emphasizes that constitutionally mandated term limits provide an important mechanism to hold heads of state accountable, ensure peaceful and democratic transfers of power, and give new generations the opportunity to compete for political office and elect new leaders."
Diplomats worry that, if successful, the changes to the constitution may encourage other leaders looking to stay in power to follow suit.
Tuesday's march had been mostly peaceful but clashes erupted between police firing tear gas and rock-throwing protesters when some tried to get to the National Assembly, where the issue will be debated on Thursday.
Although the government says it will ask lawmakers for approval to hold a referendum, some critics suspect it may, at the last minute, try to pass the changes simply by securing the support of 75 percent of the National Assembly, as allowed by law.
A number of those opposed to Compaore's plan are trying to prevent Thursday's vote from even being held.
"We urge all involved, including Burkina Faso?s security forces, to adhere to non-violence, and to debate this issue in a peaceful and inclusive manner," the U.S. statement said.
(Reporting by Joe Penney and Mathieu Bonkoungou in Ouagadougou and David Lewis in Dakar; Writing by David Lewis; Editing by Louise Ireland)