Burundi presidency: Coup plotters will be brought to justice

Burundi's presidency said Wednesday that an attempted coup by a top general had been "foiled" and that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

"It is with regret that we have learned that a group from the armed forces mutinied this morning and declared an imaginary coup," the office of President Pierre Nkurunziza said in its first full statement since the coup attempt was launched.

"The presidency informs national and international public opinion that this coup attempt has been foiled and that these people, who read the coup announcement on the radio, are being hunted by defence and security forces so that they can be brought to justice," the statement added.