Burundi coup: Timeline of events

14 May 2015

A timeline of the events on Wednesday as a coup attempt was launched in Burundi to try to overthrow President Pierre Nkurunziza, amid unrest over his bid to be re-elected to a third term. All times are approximate and in BST (GMT+1)

08:45: Hundreds of protesters reach an area about one km from the presidential palace, the closest to the centre they have got, reports the BBC's Maud Jullien.

09:24:

"Grenades thrown, protesters have Moltov cocktails.." - a tweet from Burundi

@Melaniegouby

A spokesman for Burundi's President, Pierre Nkurunziza, tells the BBC's Great Lakes service that rumours of a coup were unfounded and spread over Twitter.

10:53: An army general in Burundi says he no longer recognises President Pierre Nkurunziza as the country's leader. Godefroid Niyombareh tells reporters in the capital, Bujumubura, that a national salvation committee has been set up to run the country.

12:14: An emphatic denial from Burundi's president - there is no coup in Burundi and the situation is under control.

"There is no coup in Burundi" - a tweet from the country's presidency

@BdiPresidence

12:19: But on the ground the situation is less clear. Thousands begin heading towards the centre of the capital, including soldiers supporting the coup, reports the BBC's Maud Jullien.

Thousands head towards the centre of Burundi's capital following a coup

@MaudJullien

It was a fast-moving and confusing day on Wednesday

12:56: The police that have been cracking down on weeks of protests have "vanished" from the capital, AP reports.

13:11: Gunfire is heard at Burundi's state broadcaster, as troops loyal to the President fire over the heads of protesters.

15:34:

Burundi's president is not afraid to return home, a tweet says

@rakidi

16:37: The UN makes an urgent appeal for calm and restraint.

1900: Confusion over the whereabouts of the president continues.

Confusion continues over the president's whereabouts, this tweet says

@rakidi

1901: The US is viewing the coup attempt with "concern", White House spokesman Josh Earnest says. "We call on all sides to lay down arms, end the violence and show restraint."

Major General Godefroid Niyombare addresses the nation inside the Radio Publique Africaine (RPA) broadcasting studios in Burundi's capital Bujumbura (13 Mat 2015)

Reuters

Major General Godefroid Niyombare addressed the nation shortly after his coup attempt on Wednesday

1905: There is now a dangerous stand-off in Bujumbura, the AFP news agency reports, with pro-Nkurunziza troops still controlling key institutions, including the presidential palace and state broadcaster.

1920: Leaders of the East African countries attending a regional summit in Tanzania strongly condemn the coup and call fro general elections to be postponed. The leaders call on all parties to ensure that the violence stops.

@attwoodch

2115: A senior government official in Tanzania confirms to the BBC's Charlotte Atwood that President Nkurunziza left in a plane for just 10 minutes from Tanzania to Burundi before turning back.