Nkurunziza in secret location in Dar es Salaam as fighting rages in Burundi

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza said an attempted coup by a top general had "failed" on May 13, 2015 and pro-president Burundi troops at state broadcaster fire warning shots over the heads of hundreds of protesters. AFP PHOTO

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza, the target of an attempted coup in his central African country, is currently in a secret location in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam, official Tanzanian sources said Thursday.

"He is in Dar es Salaam, we cannot tell you where. We cannot bring him to the same hotel for security reasons," one of the sources, a senior Tanzanian presidential security official, told AFP.

Nkurunziza was in Tanzania on Wednesday for talks with regional leaders when a top general announced he was launching an attempted coup to stop the president from seeking a controversial third term in office.

The president tried to return home by flight but pro-coup security forces closed the airport.

Meanwhile, rival groups of soldiers are fighting each other in Burundi's capital amid confusion over the success of an attempted coup against the president.
Gunfire and explosions were heard near state radio and television overnight.
The army chief of staff says the coup by a former intelligence head has failed. But President Pierre Nkurunziza has been unable to return from Tanzania. His whereabouts are unknown.
The unrest began when Mr Nkurunziza announced he was seeking a third term.
Opponents say the bid contravenes the constitution. Mr Nkurunziza came to power in 2005.
The coup was announced by Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombare, a former intelligence chief and ally of the president, after Mr Nkurunziza left for regional talks in Tanzania on Wednesday.
"The masses vigorously and tenaciously reject President Nkurunziza's third-term mandate. President Pierre Nkurunziza has been relieved of his duties. The government is overthrown," he said in a radio broadcast.
In an address on a private radio, Gen Niyombare said the government was dissolved.
Thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate the announcement, marching on the centre of the capital, Bujumbura, alongside soldiers and two tanks.
One protester told the BBC this was a victory after weeks of protests.
The presidency dismissed the coup attempt as "imaginary".
Overnight, army chief of staff Gen Prime Niyongabo - a supporter of the president - announced: "The attempted coup... has been stopped."
His comments came after holding a night of negotiations with the defence minister, who backs the coup.
But there appears to be little sign of any agreement within the armed forces itself.
Factions loyal to each side reportedly began fighting each other for control of the national television and radio station.
Loud blasts and heavy gunfire rang out overnight.
The scenes of joy in the streets on Wednesday have been replaced by an uneasy silence, interrupted by sporadic gunfire. The streets of Bujumbura are deserted. It has been an anxious night.
People have their ears stuck to their radio sets, listening to the only two private broadcasters still running. One of the two was attacked overnight. The popular RPA - Radio Publique Africaine, which broadcast an interview with Gen Niyombare on Wednesday - was also targeted and had to shut down.
The usually vibrant private media play a key role in shaping opinion here, and President Nkurunziza's supporters have been targeting them since the beginning of the crisis.
A lot of the tension overnight was also concentrated around the national broadcaster, which is strategic because it is the only outlet still broadcasting outside the capital.

Wednesday's events unfolded after President Nkurunziza flew to the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam for a meeting with other East African leaders to discuss the crisis.
Officials there told the BBC that he had flown back to Burundi upon learning of the coup.
But the airport and borders were ordered to be closed by Gen Niyombare, and so Mr Nkurunziza had to return to Dar es Salaam.
It is not clear if he remains there.
His fellow leaders at the summit in Tanzania condemned the coup.
The UN and US has urged all sides to show restraint.
The unrest began on 26 April and has led to the deaths of more than 20 people.
Tens of thousands of Burundians have fled to neighbouring states in recent weeks.
President Nkurunziza has rejected calls to postpone next month's election. However, the summit in Tanzania urged him to do so.
The 51-year-old former rebel leader argues that he is entitled to run for a third term because he was first appointed to the role by parliament in 2005, rather than being elected.
The constitution states a president can only be elected to two terms in office, but earlier this month the country's constitutional court upheld Mr Nkurunziza's interpretation.

Coup bid leader: Gen Godefroid Niyombare, 46
 Former rebel CNDD-FDD commander and ally of President Nkurunziza
 First ethnic Hutu army chief - a significant step in reconciliation efforts
 A negotiator in peace talks with last rebel group FNL
 Oversaw Burundi's deployment to Somalia as part of African force
 Served as ambassador to Kenya
 Dismissed as intelligence chief in February three months after his appointment
 Dismissal came days after he recommended against the third-term bid

BBC