Dozens killed as militants attack Army barracks in Burundi

A coordinated attack on two army barracks in Burundi capital of Bujumbura, which began at about 4am today by militants left dozens of people dead.

heavily armed men attacked a base at Ngagara in the north of the city and a military training college in the south, according to a senior military officer, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.

'After more than two hours of clashes, the army repulsed the southern attack, while virtually all the attackers were killed in Ngagara base,' the officer said.

'There are dozens of deaths among the attackers and we also have losses,' he said, adding the situation would soon be brought 'completely' under control.

Fighting began in the country shortly after a failed coup in May, the political crisis was sparked by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term which he later won in disputed elections in July.
Months of street protests have devolved into regular armed attacks with gunfire disrupting the nights and dead bodies appearing on city streets almost every day.
Attacks on security forces have escalated with frequent ambushes of police convoys by rebels armed with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades and mortars aimed at government installations.