Public heeds stay at home call

A local human rights coalition said its appeal to the public for a three-day stay at home protest beginning on Monday at the state's abused of power had paralysed the capital, Ouagadougou. Although public transport and markets resumed business late in the morning, schools remain closed and demonstrations have been called in 15 provinces. AFP reported that students armed with stones and catapult erected barricades and brought traffic to a halt in the capital. The rights groups ordered the action after police fought at least 5,000 marching demonstrators in the capital on Friday, demanding the government fully probe the death of investigative reporter Norbert Zongo. The 55 civil society bodies, political parties and interest groups - formed into a single opposition bloc - have over the past two months been demanding that the government exercise transparency and respect human rights in national affairs. These demands have been made in street protests in different provinces in the country, the president of the opposition coalition told IRIN. "We want the government to reform the judiciary, to end impunity, to guarantee human rights and revise the constitution and electoral code," Haledou Ouedrago said. Demands for reforms became persistent following the sudden and suspicious death of Zongo in December 1998. His death has come to symbolise resistance to what government opponents see as the prevailing abuse of power in the country. Amnesty International has in the past joined local and other foreign bodies calling for a full, independent investigation into Zongo's death. His charred body and those of three companions were found in a car near the capital. Security guards linked to President Blaise Compaore's brother have been implicated in the killings.