1st LD Writethru: UN chief urges restraint in Burundi after coup attempt

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon Wednesday urged all parties in Burundi to exercise calm and restraint after a reported attempted coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza in the African country.

"The Secretary-General urgently calls on all parties to exercise calm and restraint," said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at a regular briefing here.

"He reminds all Burundian leaders of the need to preserve peace and stability in a country that has suffered so grievously from previous bouts of violence," Dujarric added.

Burundi plunged into chaos on Wednesday as the Burundi President Nkurunziza said a coup attempt had "failed."

"The situation is under control," Nkurunziza, who was in the Tanzanian capital for a special summit with East African Community (EAC) leaders, said via twitter.

Earlier in the day, former head of Burundi's National Intelligence, Maj. General Godefroid Niyombare announced that the army had overthrown the president and stakeholders were working on a transitional government.

Following days of protests in Burundi against Nkurunziza's third term bid, the European Union and the Unites States have urged Burundi to postpone elections, arguing that the climate is not "conducive" to hold elections. Endite