Former Burundi president arrested over coup plot

BUJUMBURA, Aug 21 (Reuters) Police arrested Burundi's former President Domitien Ndayizeye today, apparently in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the tiny central African country's government, a judge said.

''Ndayizeye was arrested and jailed and his arrest may be linked to the attempted coup plot,'' a senior judge, who declined to be named, told Reuters.

Eight people have already been arrested over the alleged coup plot. Earlier this month, the government said it had strong evidence its alleged architects had planned to kill President Pierre Nkurunziza and overthrow his government.

Oda Ndayizeye, the former president's wife, confirmed her husband had been arrested, but said she did not know why.

''He was summoned to the public prosecutor this afternoon for interrogation. After that I saw the police taking him to prison,'' she told Reuters.

Nkurunziza said five months ago that three unnamed men were plotting a coup against him. Burundi is tasting peace for the first time in more than a decade after a civil war killed more than 300,000 people.

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