A number of independent daily newspapers in Burkina Faso suspended publication today in protest over the violent death earlier this month of a prominent journalist, Norbert Zongo.

However a state-controlled daily was printed despite a call by the journalists' union to halt publication for the day.

Mr Zongo was killed when his car exploded in flames, and witnesses said there were bullet holes in the vehicle's bodywork.

A number of protest rallies followed his death, and the government has announced an independent inquiry.

The journalists' union has called for an independent investigation by foreign experts.