Fighting intensifies between Burundi troops, rebel soldiers

Fighting intensified on Thursday between Burundi's government troops and rebel soldiers as the two sides continued to exchange fire in a bid to seize the capital Bujumbura, authorities said.

Supporters of the coup camp, led by former head of Burundi's National Intelligence Maj. Gen. Godefroid Niyombare, and pro-president forces were engaged in heavy fighting around the state radio and TV building, witnesses told Xinhua news agency.

The streets were largely deserted while gunshots and loud explosions could be heard in the capital on Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, former head of Burundi's National Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Godefroid Niyombare announced the dismissal of President Pierre Nkurunziza, who was in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, for a special summit with East African Community (EAC) leaders.

Shortly after the coup attempt, Nkurunziza said in a Twitter statement that the coup had "failed" and "the situation is under control".

--Indo-Asia News Service

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