Troops clash in capital after Burundi coup attempt

[Bosonic]

Source: AFP

Bujumbura (Burundi) (AFP) - Heavy fighting between rival Burundian troops erupted in the capital on Thursday, the day after a top general launched a coup to oust the central African nation's President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Military sources and witnesses said troops loyal to the president were fighting off an attack against the state television and radio complex. The president himself was in neighbouring Tanzania when the coup was launched and remains in a secret location in Dar es Salaam, Tanzanian officials said.

AFP reporters said the crackle of automatic weapons fire and the thump of explosions could be heard throughout the night and intensifying around dawn.

The streets were largely deserted by civilians as sporadic clashes could be heard in other parts of the city, while plumes of smoke were seen on the city skyline.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/burundi-coup-leaders-claim-control-most-capital-080348641.html

[Bosonic]

1. Nkurunziza remains 'legitimate' president of Burundi: US

Nkurunziza remains 'legitimate' president of Burundi: US

Washington (AFP) - The United States insisted Thursday that it still recognized Pierre Nkurunziza as the president of Burundi, a day after a top general launched a coup to oust him.

"There are competing claims to authority, but we recognize President Nkurunziza as the legitimate president," a State Department spokesman, Jeff Rathke, told reporters.

Rathke confirmed the Burundian leader had remained overnight in Tanzania where he was attending regional talks, but Washington did not know his precise whereabouts.

The US was following "closely" the reports of clashes in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, and "attempting to gain as much information as we can," Rathke said, describing it as a "fluid" situation.

http://news.yahoo.com/nkurunziza-remains-legitimate-president-burundi-us-175102985.html;_ylt=AwrC0F_T4FRVgw8AoBDQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTByOHZyb21tBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Burundi coup bid: President returns to Bujumbura

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has returned to the country and his troops say they are in control of key locations, a day after a coup attempt.

Mr Nkurunziza announced his return on the Burundi presidency Twitter site.

There were earlier fierce clashes in the capital, Bujumbura, particularly at the state radio office, but they are now said to have subsided. Five soldiers are reported killed.
...
BBC correspondents say the streets seem to be mainly in the control of loyalist police, and the airport has reopened, which would appear to confirm reports it too is in loyalist hands.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-32732793