The coup d'etat was announced in a radio broadcast, with senior army generals saying they were deposing embattled President Pierre Nkurunziza who is travelling to Tanzania to meet leaders of the East Africa Community to discuss the recent violence that has rocked his country.
"Forces Vives de the Nation have decided to take charge of the nation," Godefroid Niyombareh, who was fired by Nkurunziza as intelligence chief in February, said in the radio announcement. "President Pierre Nkurunziza is removed from office."
The EAC is made up of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.
Niyombareh announced a national salvation committee had been set up to run the country and said he is working with civil society and other groups on forming a transitional government. "All people are asked to respect the lives and property of others," he added.
Military officers have been reported to be closing in on the Radio-Télévision nationale du Burundi (RTNB), the country's state broadcaster, as loyalists fired back to protect the building, which was under loyalist control.
As of 12.30pm GMT, the loyalists were still holding the building.
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