POINTING FINGERS

Burundi President Warns of al-Shabab

In first appearance since coup attempt.

Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza made his first public appearance on Sunday since a failed coup against him was launched last week. Speaking from his presidential office in the capital Bujumbura, Nkurunziza declined to mention the coup attempt, but instead warned of of Somalia's Islamic extremists al-Shabab. Sheikh Ali Mahamud Rage, a spokesman for al-Shabab, called his speech "dumbfounding" and said the country's problems were "clearly domestic." Officials brought charges against 18 people on Saturday for helping the attempted coup while the alleged leader Godefroid Niyombare is still on the run. Violent protests began April 26 when Nkurunziza announced his plans to seek a third term as president, culiminating with a coup bid on Wednesday.