Heavy fighting erupts between rival Burundi troops

Soldiers patrol outside the Finance Ministry in Bujumbura on May 13, 2015 after the announcement of an attempted coup against the Burundian president [Photo: AFP/Landry Nshimiye]

Heavy fighting broke out between rival Burundian troops on Thursday around the state broadcaster, military officials and witnesses said, the day after a top general launched a coup to oust President Pierre Nkurunziza.

Witnesses said rival factions of the armed forces, divided between supporters of the coup attempt and the president's loyalists, were exchanging heavy machine gun and rocket fire around the state television and radio complex, which is held by the president's supporters.