Rival groups of soldiers in Burundi are vying for control of the capital Bujumbura amid confusion over the success of an attempted coup.

There has been heavy fighting at the state radio building, where broadcasts were briefly halted.

One source said soldiers loyal to President Pierre Nkurunziza controlled key areas, including the airport. Coup leaders insist they remain in charge.

The unrest began when Mr Nkurunziza announced he was seeking a third term.

Opponents say the bid contravenes the constitution.

There is no confirmation on the whereabouts of the president. Some reports say he is still in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, where he had travelled to attend a summit.

A general supporting the coup told Agence France-Presse that troops had been ordered to take the loyalist-held state radio building with a full armoured assault.

The RTBN radio station had earlier broadcast a message from Mr Nkurunziza condemning the coup.

“I thank soldiers who are putting things in order, and I forgive any soldier who decides to surrender,” he said.

But an employee there then told AFP: “We are being attacked. It is very heavy. The transmitter has been cut. We cannot transmit.”

Shortly afterwards the station resumed broadcasting, initially playing music then a statement that loyalists were still in control.

“We had stopped transmitting during the attack. Now the fighting has stopped we can resume. It is still loyalist soldiers who are in control,” station director Jerome Nzokirantevye said in the broadcast.

Control of the national broadcaster is key because it is the only outlet still broadcasting outside the capital, the BBC’s Maud Jullien reports.

The two private radio stations have been shut down. The most popular – Radio Publique Africaine – was burnt down overnight after broadcasting Gen Niyobare’s coup announcement.

A senior military source earlier told BBC Afrique that loyalist troops were in control of the presidential palace, the radio station, the airport and the centre of Bujumbura.

BBC