Burundi's pro-president troops have regained control of the international airport in the capital Bujumbura, which was earlier taken by the pro-coup forces, sources told Xinhua on Thursday.

Currently government forces have secured control of more important facilities in the capital such as the State House, headquarters of the ruling party CNDD-FDD, the state TV broadcaster and the state radio, the sources said.

Government troops based in other provinces are on their way to the capital to "help control the situation," a security source said on condition of anonymity.

Intensive infighting broke out between government troops and coup forces throughout Wednesday night until early hours of Thursday.

Attempts by the coup plotters to negotiate with loyalist forces led by Burundi's Army Chief of Staff General Prime Niyongabo failed after the latter vowed "to die for Nkurunziza."

A statement from the Burundi presidency on Thursday urged Burundians to "remain calm."

"A group of soldiers mutinied this morning and made a fanciful declaration of a coup. The presidency wishes to inform the national and international community that the coup attempt had been foiled and those who made the announcement of a coup are being tracked down by the security forces so that they can face the law," the presidency said in a statement released Wednesday night.

"The Burundi presidency urges the Burundian population and foreigners living in Burundi to remain calm. Everything is being done to restore security across the entire national territory," the statement added.

Conflicts broke out in the country following Wednesday's announcement by former intelligence head Maj. Gen. Godefroid Niyombare that he had "dismissed" President Pierre Nkurunziza and his government.

Regional blocks such as the African Union have expressed concerns over conflicts in the country and the East African leaders attending a summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania discussing a solve to Burundi's political crisis also condemned the bid to oust Nkurunziza and called for a return to "constitutional order."

It was reported that more than 20 people have been killed in weeks of protest against Nkurunziza's re-election bid, and more than 70,000 Burundians displaced.

Opponents said Nkurunziza's bid for another five years in office violates a two-term limit set down in the constitution and in the peace deal that ended the civil war.

However supporters claimed the president could run because he was picked in his first term by parliament rather than by popular vote, which did not count.

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