TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - France has called for calm and restrain among Burkinabes, after thousands descended on the streets to reject President Blaise Compaore's plan to extend his stay on power.

"We call on the people to return and remain calm, and we ask for all parties to restrain themselves," said a spokesperson for France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, who continued to say that France was keeping an eye on the developments on the ground of its former colony.

"We deeply regret the violence that had occurred within and in the vicinity of the Parliament," added the spokesperson, as quoted by AFP.

The Ministry said around 3,500 French citizens resided in the West African nation, and diplomatic staffers in the country were keeping contact with French citizens in the nation to update them on current developments.

Reuters reported from Ouagadougou that thousands of demonstrators stormed Burkina Faso's parliament building before torching the complex on Thursday, following a vote which would allow embattled President Blaise Compaore to participate in the upcoming election.

The crowds began to move towards the Prime Minister's office while government helicopters hovered in the skies, shooting the masses with tear gas from above, said an eyewitness.

Legislators had planned to open the ballots on Thursday to decide on a constitutional amendment that would allow President Blaise Compaore to participate in next year's election.

Technically, President Compaore would not be able to run as he had served twice as president, the maximum number of terms allowed under the unrevised constitution.

The majority of Burkinabe legislators had yet to arrive when the mobs started to ransack and torch the building.

"We are doing this because Blaise have been in power for too long, and we are tired of having to deal with him," said Seydou Kabre, a demonstrator who was making his way with the crowds towards the Prime Minister's office.

"We want change, and he has to go!" continued Seydou.

The crowds have effectively occupied the Parliament building when police began to fire warning shots into the air to disperse the crowds. However, the police were forced to stand back as the crowds continued to grow in numbers, according to an eyewitness.

ANTARA