Updated

Burundi's capital was quiet Wednesday night after a tumultuous day in which thousands of people celebrated an attempted coup against President Pierre Nkurunziza, who was in neighboring Tanzania for a summit meeting on his country's troubles.

But Nkurunziza's office said the coup attempt was unsuccessful, posting a statement on the president's Twitter and Facebook accounts.

"A group of soldiers mutinied this morning and made a fantasy declaration of a coup d'etat," said the statement.  "This attempted coup was foiled and these people ... are sought by defense and security forces so they are brought to justice."

Earlier in the day police withdrew from the streets of Bujumbura, the capital, after an army general announced that Nkurunziza had been relieved of his duties as president.