A top Burundian general
has announced the overthrow of president Pierre Nkurunziza 's government, following weeks of
violent protests against the president's bid to stand for a third term.
In a radio broadcast General Godefroid Niyombare who was sacked from his position as the central
African nation's powerful chief of intelligence in February came hours after
Mr Nkurunziza arrived in neighbouring Tanzania for talks to end the crisis.
General Niyombare said he was working with civil society groups, religious leaders and
politicians to form a transitional government.Before his radio
broadcast, General Niyombare made his declaration to reporters at a military
barracks in the capital Bujumbura.
"Regarding
president Nkurunziza's arrogance and defiance of the international community,
which advised him to respect the constitution and Arusha peace agreement ...
president Nkurunziza is dismissed, his government is dismissed too,"
General Niyombare said.
The presidential
office, however, has rubbished General Niyombare's declaration.
"We consider it as
a joke not as a military coup," presidential aide Willy Niyamitwe said.
A tweet was also sent
out from the presidential account saying the coup had "failed".
"The situation is
under control, there is no coup in Burundi," the message read.Coup leader says he's
committed to democratic process
General Niyombare — also
a former ambassador to Kenya — said he was committed to the democratic
process and would work with others towards holding elections.
"All people are
asked to respect the lives and property of others," General Niyombare
said.
He said he would form a
"committee for the restoration of national harmony", a temporary body
whose "mission, among others, is the restoration of national unity ... and
the resumption of the electoral process in a peaceful and fair
environment".
General Niyombare said
president Nkurunziza had violated the constitution by seeking a third term, in
a statement to reporters at a military barracks.
Crowds poured onto the
streets of Burundi's capital on Wednesday to celebrate the news, a Reuters
witness said.
The people sang and
cheered. Just hours earlier, demonstrators had been protesting on the same
roads against the president's bid for another five years in office.
Soldiers surrounded the
state broadcaster building and fired warning shots at protesters.
Critics of Mr
Nkurunziza's bid for another five years in office say it violates a two-term
limit in the constitution and the Arusha peace deal, which ended an ethnically
fuelled civil war in 2005 that killed 300,000 people. More than 20 people
have been killed since street protests erupted in the impoverished central
African state more than two weeks ago, according to an unofficial count by activists. (AFP)