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OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) - A former parliamentary speaker and an ex-capital city mayor are among 75 officials who have announced their resignation from the ruling party in Burkina Faso, ratcheting up political tension before elections scheduled for next year.
In a letter published over the weekend announcing their resignations, the officials said democracy had "disappeared" from President Blaise Compaore's Congress for Democracy and Progress party.
They also criticized Compaore's plans for a controversial new Senate that spurred large-scale demonstrations last year.
Critics believe Compaore plans to use the new Senate, approved by lawmakers last May, to change a rule that limits presidents to two five-year terms. Compaore has been in power since 1987. Under the current rule, he would not be able to run again once his current term expires in 2015.
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