Burundi President Appeals For Calm Amid Crisis

Confusion surrounds the whereabouts of President Pierre Nkurunziza, as army chiefs give conflicting messages about the coup.

Burundi's President has appealed for calm after one general claimed he had been deposed while another insisted an attempted coup had failed.

Army Chief of Staff General Prime Niyongabo said loyalist forces still controlled all the country's strategic points.

The claim came a day after another general, Godefroid Niyombare, said he had sacked President Pierre Nkurunziza for seeking an unconstitutional third term in office.

Gallery: Tension In Burundi After Attempted Coup

A detained protester cries in front of a burning barricade during a protest against Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to run for a third term in Bujumbura









Gallery: Tension In Burundi After Attempted Coup

While the leader's whereabouts are unclear, a brief state statement on the presidential website said: "President Pierre Nkurunziza calls on the Burundian people to remain calm."

A Tanzanian official had said he left for Burundi on Wednesday from Tanzania, where he had been attending a summit.






Gallery: Anger In Burundi Amid Presidential Deadlock












Gallery: Anger In Burundi Amid Presidential Deadlock

One security source said he was still in Tanzania because his plane could not fly to Bujumbura as its airport was closed, but there has been no official announcement

General Niyongabo said in a statement broadcast on state radio: "The coup attempt failed, loyal forces are still controlling all strategic points."

A journalist at the state broadcaster reportedly said there was still heavy gunfire being heard around the state television and radio station in the capital on, while another witness said loud blasts were heard in the capital.

The Reuters witness said two private radio stations and a television station were attacked by unknown men in police uniforms.

The two stations were among those that carried Major General Niyombare's announcement on Wednesday that he had sacked Mr Nkurunziza.

East African leaders at the talks in Dar es Salaam condemned the bid to oust him.

Chairwoman of continental body the African Union, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said she "condemns in the strongest terms today's coup attempt in Bujumbura, calls for the return to constitutional order and urges all stakeholders to exercise utmost restraint."