Officials in Burundi say the head of the army has survived an assassination attempt in the capital, Bujumbura.

A witness and a police source say men in military fatigues fired on General Prime Niyongabo as he traveled in a convoy Friday.  The general is reportedly unharmed.

The French news agency reports seven people were killed in a resulting clash, including four bodyguards, two attackers and a female police officer.

Security forces have cordoned off the area of the attack.

Niyongabo is believed to have helped foil a coup attempt in May against President Pierre Nkurunziza, who sparked violent street protests with his bid for a third term.

More than 180,000 Burundians fled the country to avoid the political violence that followed.

Nkurunziza won re-election in July in a vote that the United States and European Union said was neither free nor fair.  

Critics say his third term violates constitutional term limits and the Arusha Agreement that ended Burundi’s civil war.

The president’s top security chief was killed in a rocket attack last month. [Read More]

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Source: VOA News: Economy and Finance