Burundi coup bid: UN chief urges calm

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged all parties in Burundi to exercise calm and restraint after a reported coup attempt against President Pierre Nkurunziza in the African country.

At a regular briefing, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Wednesday said the UN is continuing to evaluate the developments as the situation is still very fluid in Burundi.  Burundi plunged into chaos on Wednesday as Burundi President Nkurunziza said a coup attempt had "failed" and "the situation is under control" via twitter as he was in the Tanzanian capital for a special summit with East African Community leaders.  Earlier in the day, former head of Burundi's National Intelligence, Maj. General Godefroid Niyombare, announced that the army had overthrown the president and the stakeholders were working on a transitional government.