[JURIST] Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] called on leadership in Burkina Faso on Friday to control security forces amidst crackdowns against protesters [press release]. Protests erupted in Burkina Faso earlier this week in response to attempts by President Blaise Compaore [BBC profile] to remove presidential term limits [Reuters report], extending his 27-year reign. Although Burkina Faso abandoned the change [Reuters report] in the face of thousands of protesters storming the parliament and state television buildings, protests began anew as Compaore announced his resignation [France24 report] and General Honore Traore, head of Burkina Faso’s military, claimed to become head of state. In response to the claim, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida, with the backing of Burkina Faso’s top military officials, has declared himself to be president [Al Jazeera report] and that Traore’s claim was “obsolete.” According to AI security forces have responded to protesters by beating them with cords and batons, shooting live rounds, and firing tear gas into crowds.

Authorities have struggled internationally with allegations of police brutality, especially against peaceful protesters. Last month a Pakistan court ordered a probe of the Prime Minister and cabinet members [JURIST report] for killings of protesters on August 31 in Islamabad’s Red Zone. Also in September the US Department of Justice released a report [JURIST report] detailing recommendations and warnings regarding the use of body-worn cameras by police. In August five people brought a lawsuit [JURIST report] against the city of Ferguson, Missouri and several officials for the use of unnecessary and unwarranted force by St. Louis County Police and Ferguson Police against demonstrators protesting the shooting death of Michael Brown. Earlier that month Human Rights Watch called on the Mexican government to fully investigate the killing of 22 civilians by soldiers on June 30, following an alleged confrontation inside an empty warehouse in the municipality of Tlatlaya.