A prominent Burundi army officer said today that he was dismissing President Pierre Nkurunziza, whose bid for a third term in office sparked more than two weeks of demonstrations by protesters who said he was violating the constitution.

Major General Godefroid Niyombare, who was fired by Nkurunziza as intelligence chief in February, was speaking at a military barracks to reporters. He was surrounded by several other senior officers in the army and police, Reuters reported.

It quoted the General as saying: “Regarding President Nkurunziza’s arrogance and defiance of the international community which advised him to respect the constitution and Arusha peace agreement, the committee for the establishment of the national concord decide: President Nkurunziza is dismissed, his government is dismissed too.”

Reuters however quoted the President’s media adviser as dismissing the statement as “a joke.”

It remains to be seen who eventually gains the upper hand in the power tussle.

•Photo shows Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza.