OUAGADOUGOU (AFP) — Thousands of women demonstrated for peace Saturday in Burkina Faso's capital, where the regime has for several months faced waves of protests over police brutality and the high cost of living.

The march in central Ouagadougou organized by a collective of women's groups did not lead to violence. President Blaise Compaore, in power since 1987, has for several months been confronted with protests across the country that started following the death under murky circumstances of a student while in police custody. Saturday's demonstrators, estimated at several thousand according to an AFP correspondent, were surrounded by security forces and wore a white scarf or headband as a sign of peace.