Bujumbura calm after coup, Buyoya returns

The Burundi capital Bujumbura was reported calm on Tuesday following a failed coup attempt on Sunday night. President Pierre Buyoya, who returned to the country on Monday after the Arusha summit, commented that coup attempts “never lead anywhere”. “In all countries all over the world whenever there are imminent changes, as it is now here, some people want to lag behind and they don’t understand,” he said, according to Burundi radio. On the transition, Buyoya reiterated that it would begin on 1 November although he would like to see it established “as soon as possible”. The outstanding issue now, he said, was that of a ceasefire. The South African deputy president would be continuing attempts to talk to the armed rebel groups and mediate between them and the government.