Burundi arrests three in connection with coup attempt

Loyalist troops in Burundi have arrested at least three leaders of a failed coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza, a presidential spokesman said.

Gervais Abayeho said those arrested on Friday were two army generals, including former Defence Minister Cyrille Ndayirukiye, and a police general.

Major-General Godefroid Niyombare, who led the coup attempt, was "still on the run, his whereabouts are not known to us", Abehayo told the Reuters news agency.

The coup leader's spokesman, Venon Ndabaneze, confirmed to the AFP news agency by phone that organisers of the coup had decided to surrender when loyalist troops arrested him, deputy coup leader Cyrille Ndayirukiye and another senior figure among the mutineers.

"We have decided to surrender," coup leader General Godefroid Niyombare also said by telephone, adding that troops loyal to the president were approaching him.

"I hope they won't kill us," he added.