Burundi President Nkurunziza returns to Bujumbura

Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza has returned to the capital Bujumbura in the wake of a failed coup attempt.

Mr Nkurunziza was in Tanzania when military leaders moved against his bid for a third term on Wednesday.

Three of the coup leaders have been arrested, though the main leader is still on the run, a presidential spokesman said.

More than 105,000 people have fled the country since unrest began in Burundi last month, the UN says.

After returning from Tanzania, Mr Nkurunziza initially travelled to his northern hometown of Ngozi, before continuing to Bujumbura.

He arrived in a huge convoy and was met by supporters in party colours dancing and celebrating, a BBC journalist in the capital reports.
He is expected to address the nation later.

Among the coup leaders arrested on Friday was renegade general and former Defence Minister Cyrille Ndayirukiye.

Security Minister Gabriel Nizigama told the BBC that two police commissioners and about a dozen other police officers had also been arrested after a brief exchange of fire at a house where they were hiding.

Gen Godefroid Niyombare, who announced the coup attempt on national radio on Wednesday, had not been detained, though he told AFP news agency that he was planning to surrender.
Unrest broke out in Burundi late last month after the 51-year-old president said he would run for re-election in June.

Opponents said this contravened the constitution, which states a president can only be elected to two terms.

Mr Nkurunziza argued he was entitled to a third term because he was first appointed to the role by parliament in 2005, rather than elected.
His spokesman says that elections will continue as planned.

Map

25 April: President Pierre Nkurunziza is nominated for a third term in office, a move his opponents say is unconstitutional

26 April: Protesters take to the streets of the capital Bujumbura, clashing with police over the decision, and more demonstrations follow in the coming days
6 May: President Nkurunziza praises the constitutional court's approval of his candidacy, and says his third term will be his last

9 May: Seven other hopefuls file their candidacies
13 May: With President Nkurunziza in neighbouring Tanzania discussing the crisis, General Godefroid Niyombare announces the dismissal of the president and his entire cabinet; thousands celebrate - but the coup attempt fails