Burundi: Coup Has Failed, Says Nkuruziza

A TOP Burundian general has announced the overthrow of President Pierre Nkurunziza, but that is news to the East African leader who says a coup attempt has “failed”.
“President Pierre Nkurunziza is removed from office, the government is dissolved,” General Godefroid Niyombare said in a radio broadcast.
The broadcast by Mr Niyombare — a highly respected figure who was sacked from his position as the African nation’s chief of intelligence in February — came hours after Nkurunziza left the country for neighbouring Tanzania for a meeting with other East African Community leaders from Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to discuss the turmoil in Burundi.
“All people are asked to respect the lives and property of others,” Mr Niyombare added.
However Mr Nkurunziza tweeted that the coup attempt had “failed”.
“The situation is under control, there is no coup in Burundi,” the message read.
Despite the claim the coup had failed, AP reported that police had vanished from the streets of Burundi’s capital as thousands celebrated in the streets.
Burundi’s opposition leaders denied being behind the coup attempt.
Former rebel militia leader and presidential hopeful Agathon Rwasa told IBTimes UK he did not know about the coup.
“I am discovering it now on the radio, just like you,” he said from the capital Bujumbura. “Now, we will have to see what happens next.”
At least 15 people have been killed during the violence which started on April 25 after the ruling party nominated Mr Nkurunziza to run for re-election in elections set for June.
More than 220 have been injured in the protests, according to Burundi’s Red Cross.
Police fired tear gas and live ammunition on protesters on Wednesday as they came within a kilometre of the presidency in the capital Bujumbura.