国际英语新闻:Burkina Faso demonstrators ask retired general to lead interim gov't

OUAGADOUGOU, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of demonstrators protest against the newly appointed transitional president, general Honore Nabere Traore, Chief of the General Staff of the army who should organize a new presidential election within 90 days, following the resignation of the former president Blaise Compaore.

They asked for a retired general Kouame Lougue, justifying that general Nabere Traore has served Blaise Compaore for years and will go ahead with the same ideology.

"The national armed forces acknowledge the resignation of the president of Faso...I will assume from this day the responsibilities of head of State," general Traore said in statement, just after his designation.

His statement has come over while thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the General Staff of the army, claiming the retired general Kouame Lougue to lead the transitional period.

"We do not want general Honore ... He served for years for president Compaore. He is loyal to him and will follow his ideologies," a demonstrator named Sylvestre Ouedraogo said, chanting the name of the retired general Kouame Lougue.

General Kouame Lougue, former Chief of the General Staff of the army and former minister of defense, had been accused of forging a coup and had been rejected in 2003 of the second government of the Premier Ernest Paramanga Yonli.

"At least, he stood up to Blaise Compaore, at some time during life. He is thus credible compared to the other," a student named Micheline Simpore said.