Burundi in chaos as president says attempted coup 'failed'

Burundi plunged into chaos on Wednesday as the Burundi presidency said an attempted coup attempt had "failed," following an army general's claim that the president had been sacked and a transitional government was being discussed.

Burundi plunged into chaos on Wednesday as the Burundi presidency said an attempted coup attempt had "failed," following an army general's claim that the president had been sacked and a transitional government was being discussed. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

"The situation is under control," President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is in Dar es Salaam, Tanzanian for a special summit with East African Community (EAC) leaders, said in a twitter statement.

Earlier in the day, former head of Burundi's National Intelligence Maj. General Godefroid Niyombare announced that the army had overthrown the president and stakeholders were working on a transitional government.

Niyombare also announced the dismissal of all government officials and suspension of Burundi's parliament.

It remains unclear whether Niyombare's claim has the support of the Burundi military. There are reports that rival army factions representing both Niyombare's camp and pro-president forces are in talks to find a way out of the crisis.

Niyombare made the announcement on a private radio station while the state radio and TV building was guarded by government troops and police from a besiege of hundreds of protestors.

Witnesses told Xinhua that pro-president soldiers, who still had control of key state institutions including the state broadcaster the presidential palace, fired warning shots over the heads of protesters.

Protests also broke out in other parts of Bujumbura Wednesday as protesters battled police and tried to enter the capital's central business district. Live shots were reportedly fired by police at the crowds and there was no report of casualties.

Some 17 people have been killed in clashes after Nkurunziza announced his decision in late April to stand for re-election in the presidential election slated for June 26.

Protesters opposed Nkurunziza's bid for a third term, which they say violates the constitution and Arusha peace and reconciliation deal that brought the country's civil war to an end.

But Burundi's constitutional court endorsed Nkurunziza's candidacy, explaining that the 2005-2010 term should not be counted as a term because he was elected by the parliament and not directly in universal suffrage. Nkurunziza vowed that if re- elected, it will be his "last" term.

Nkurunziza arrived in Tanzania early Wednesday for an emergency meeting with other EAC leaders from Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda in Dar es Salaam over the Burundi crisis.

Following days of protests in Burundi against Nkurunziza's third term bid, the European Union and the Unites States have urged Burundi to postpone elections, arguing that the climate is not "conducive" to hold elections.