Burundi President 'dismissed' after weeks of unrest

The president of African nation Burundi has reportedly been dismissed, according to a senior army official.

Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in office sparked more than two weeks of demonstrations by protesters who said he was violating the constitution.

Major General Godefroid Niyombare, who was fired by Nkurunziza as intelligence chief in February, said he had dismissed both the President and his government.

He said: "Regarding President Nkurunziza's arrogance and defiance of the international community which advised him to respect the constitution and Arusha peace agreement, the committee for the establishment of the national concord decide: President Nkurunziza is dismissed, his government is dismissed too."

Burundi's constitution states a president can run for only two five-year terms.

But Nkurunziza maintains he can run for a third term because Parliament elected him for his first term, rather than the general public.

The statement he had been ousted was immediately dismissed as "a joke" by the president's media adviser.

But East African leaders are set to hold emergency talks on the Burundi situation in Tanzania today.

Since protests began on April 25 it is estimated that over 20 have been killed, including one man who was burned alive.

Many had also been displaced because of the troubles and ongoing civil conflict in the country which has been raging for 40 years.

Officials in neighbouring Rwanda said more than 20,000 refugees had now crossed the border, with thousands more thought to have gone into the Congo.

The British Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that a general had declared a "military coup" in Burundi by seeking to oust President Pierre Nkurunziza.

"On May 13 in Bujumbura, General Godefroid declared a military coup. The situation is subject to rapid change," Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.