Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called for an end to the escalating violence in Burkina Faso and said that he will dispatch his special envoy to West Africa to the country. Thousands of protestors fought security forces outside the presidential palace in the capital of Ouagadougou, and vandalized government buildings and the state television headquarters, according to media reports. The country's airport has reportedly been closed, and Ban's spokesman in New York City said the U.N. chief is following the violent situation. "The secretary-general is saddened over the loss of life resulting from recent events," the spokesman said in a statement. "He calls on all parties to end the use of violence, exercise calm and restraint, and use dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues." Ban said that his special representative for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, will travel to Burkina Faso on Friday. Chambas' mission will be jointly undertaken by the African Union and Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS).
