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| Military coup underway in Burundi. Dissident army officers attemtps to take control of government. President Nkuruziza's Army still in charge |
"Forces Vives de the Nation have decided to take charge of the nation. President Pierre Nkurunziza is removed from office." Niyombareh announced that a national salvation committee had been set up to run the country, and said he is working with civil society and other groups on forming a transitional government.
"All people are asked to respect the lives and property of others," Niyombare added.
However, Burundian army still loyal to President Nkurunziza are fully in control of the capital and major sectors of the government including the national radio station. The dissident forces have been reported to be trying to take control of the Radio-Télévision nationale du Burundi (RTNB), the country's state broadcaster, as loyalist forces fired back to protect the building, which was under loyalist control. As of 12.30 GMT, the loyalists were still holding the building.
President Pierre Nkurunziza, is in Tanzania to meet East Africa Community leaders to discuss the recent violence that has rocked his country. His aides have described the attempted coup d'etat as a joke.
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| Embattled Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza arrives at Tanzania's Dar Es Salaam airport ahead of the East African Community Summit on 13 May 2015 |
Meanwhile, Burundi's opposition leaders have denied being behind the coup. 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 told IBTimes UK from the capital Bujumbura.
"Now, we will have to see what happens next." International reaction A South African foreign ministry spokesman told Reuters that "it's way too early to say" whether a coup had taken place in Burundi but added that the situation is being closely monitored.
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