[JURIST] Authorities in Burundi [CIA backgrounder] on Tuesday arrested five former government officials, including Vice President Alphonse Kadege, as well as a rebel leader and two others suspected of plotting a coup to overthrow the African nation's government, according to intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Adolphe Manirakiza. Police were also searching for former President Domitien Ndayizeye's spokesman, Pancrace Cimpaye, and have reportedly seized several other officials' residences [BBC report] in relation to the plot.

Violence between the majority Hutus and minority Tutsis has racked Burundi since its 12-year civil war [Global Security backgrounder], which was sparked by the assassination of the country's first democratically elected Hutu president in 1993. AP has more.