Giant Burkina Faso rally against prolonging leader's rule Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators wielding iron bars and stones battled police in the Burkina Faso capital on Tuesday after a mass rally against plans to extend the veteran president's rule. Firing tear gas, security forces charged the protesters after they ventured close to parliament in one of the biggest protests against Blaise Compaore's in his 27 years in power. The opposition has called for a blockade of parliament on Thursday when the legislature examines a proposed constitutional amendment to prolong Compaore's 27-year-rule by allowing him to seek another term next year. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES