A group of disaffected soldiers launched a foiled
coup bid in The Gambia on Tuesday while the
west African state's iron-fisted leader was in
Dubai, military and diplomatic sources said.
Forces loyal to President Yahya Jammeh, who
has ruled the small country for 20 years, killed
three suspects including the alleged ringleader
-- an army deserter, a military officer said.
The officer, speaking to AFP from Bissau, said
the deserter named as Lamin Sanneh led a
heavily-armed attack with another six men on
the presidential palace in the capital Banjul.
The pre-dawn assault triggered panic in the
tropical city, while national radio went off air
for several hours and state television was
suspended.
Opposition politician Sheikh Sidya Bayo told a
private Senegalese radio station that the unrest
was "the start of a mutiny that changed" into a
bid to topple Jammeh.
Three of the suspected coup plotters were killed
and another captured by Jammeh's forces, but
there was no confirmation of an overall death
toll from the fighting.
"Police and the army are now entirely in control
of the situation," the military officer told AFP
on condition of anonymity.
A Gambian diplomat said the presidential palace
was attacked at around 3:00 am (0300 GMT) by
armed men, including members of the
presidential guard.
"They wanted to overthrow the regime," a
military source told AFP, while a Western
diplomat said a coup attempt has "apparently
been foiled".
Army patrols urged people to return home and
remain calm as they fanned out across the
capital. Shops, banks offices and businesses
were closed and few vehicles were on the
streets.
"Contrary to rumours, there is peace and calm
in the country and people are advised to go
about their normal businesses. We are praying
for peace and tranquility to continue," state
radio announced late Monday, quoting a
government statement.
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