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Some Burundi coup soldiers still in hiding: army spokesman

Xinhua, June 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

Some Burundi mutineers who plotted a failed coup attempt in May might be in hiding or abroad, Burundian Army Spokesman told Burundi National Radio on Friday.

"Some soldiers among the group of mutineers are still missing in the army. They might be in hiding or might have fled the country," said Burundi Army Spokesman Colonel Gaspard Baratuza.

According to Baratuza, these soldiers have not returned to their barracks despite a call by Army Chief of Staff Major General Prime Niyongabo inviting them to come back.

"There are soldiers who panicked because they were enrolled in the mutiny at the last minute," said Baratuza.

Unconfirmed reports say that hundreds of soldiers may have fled Burundi with weapons after the coup attempt failed, and may be preparing to attack Burundi.

On May 13, a group of soldiers and policemen led by Major General Godefroid Niyombare announced that they had overthrown Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza and his government.

The failed coup attempt happened when Nkurunziza was in Dar-es- Salaam, Tanzania for an East African Community heads of state summit on Burundi's unrest.

The coup attempt was foiled within 48 hours and many mutineers were arrested, with coup leader Niyombare still at large. Endi