Burundi president 'fails to return'
Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza's attempt to return home to tackle a coup has failed and he has returned to Tanzania where he was attending a summit, officials there told the BBC.
The coup was announced by Maj Gen Godefroid Niyombare on Wednesday.
But its outcome remains unclear and the presidency insisted it had failed.
Heavy gunfire was heard early on Thursday morning near the radio and TV station in the capital, Bujumbura, Reuters news agency reports.
The loyalists still reportedly hold the presidential palace and main radio offices.
"The attempted coup by General Godefroid Niyombare has been stopped," said armed forces chief General Prime Niyongabo said in a radio broadcast.
Earlier Gen Niyombare had ordered the closure of the airport to prevent Mr Nkurunziza's plane from landing.
The UN and US urged all sides to show restraint.