General claims overthrow of Burundi leader

A high-ranking general in the Burundian army on Wednesday said he had overthrown the president after weeks of street protests in the impoverished east Africa country.

General Godefroid Niyombare told reporters at a military barracks surrounded by army and police officers in the capital Bujumbura that a newly established "national salvation committee" would run Burundi as part of a transitional government.

It was not clear whether Gen Niyombare had the full support of the army and his coup claim was immediately disputed by the presidency. But his announcement was greeted with celebration and gunfire of the streets of the capital.

African leaders meeting at an emergency summit in Tanzania to discuss the crisis with Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza swiftly condemned the coup declaration.

But the Burundian presidency dismissed the coup claim as a failed army mutiny and a "joke", leaving it unclear who was in control of the country as President Nkurunziza attempted to return to the capital on Wednesday evening.

An estimated 22 demonstrators have been killed in recent weeks in political protests that erupted after Mr Nkurunziza announced on April 25 that he would stand for a third term in violation of provisions of a peace deal that ended a 12-year ethnic war in Burundi, and despite objections from the opposition and senior ranks of his own party.

At their summit in Tanzania, African leaders called for a delay in the elections. They said they would reconvene in two weeks to try to defuse the crisis.

The coup declaration, which analysts say is unlikely to win the backing of the entire army, comes from one of the most popular and senior members of the army and a ruling CNDD-FDD party heavyweight. Gen Niyombare is a former army chief of staff who was sacked as intelligence chief earlier this year after he opposed Mr Nkurunziza's bid to stand for a third term.

The president's attempt to extend his mandate has been widely condemned as unconstitutional and a violation of the country's peace agreement.

Analysts said a coup would further complicate efforts to restore constitutional rule.

"A military coup is definitely not a positive outcome - for the military or the people; this is a real step back for Burundi," said Yolande Bouka, a researcher at think-tank ISS who has met Gen Niyombare and describes the former ambassador as "popular, calm and soft-spoken".

"A coup will mean another transitional period, transferring power to a provisional government -- you can't have elections under these conditions," she said.

Burundi is still recovering from a civil war that ended with a power-sharing deal in 2005. Legislative polls are due on May 26 and presidential polls on June 26.

There are growing fears in the region that the unrest and ethnic tensions will spill across borders.

"So far the [refugee] situation is really bad," said Zitto Kabwe, a former member of parliament in Tanzania whose constituency bordered Burundi.

More than 50,000 Burundians have fled to neighbouring countries since early April, and aid agencies say they are working with forecasts that as many as 300,000 may flee as a result of the political turbulence.

"[If the coup proves successful] the [east African Community regional bloc] will now have to take the lead on how to transfer power back to a civilian government and restore some sort of political integrity to Burundi," said Ms Bouka. "It means a lot more work than just trying to negotiate between opposition and ruling party."

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