Sporadic shooting has continued overnight in the capital of the West African state of Guinea Bissau, following an attack by rebel soldiers on the army headquarters early on Sunday morning.

Residents said the situation in the city was confused and it was unclear how many troops were engaged on either side.

President Joao Bernardo Vieira said on national radio that he would crush the rebellion.

He accused a former head of the armed forces Ansoumane Mane of being behind the mutiny and said its defeat was only a matter of time.

At least ten people are reported to have been killed in the fighting.

The reasons for the revolt aren't clear.

The leading Guinea Bissau opposition group, the Movimento Bafata , said it was prompted, in part, by the recent appointment of a new armed forces chief-of-staff.