Curfew after CAR coup attempt

There have been a series of protests in Bangui

The President of the Central African Republic, Ange Felix Patasse, has declared a curfew following a failed coup attempt.

Earlier, the presidential spokesman, Prosper Ndouba, confirmed that Mr Patasse was safe and with his family after rebellious soldiers attacked his home overnight.

Mr Ndouba said the situation was now under control and the presidential guard was pursuing the attackers.

At least seven soldiers and two civilians were reported killed during the attack.

Mr Ndouba denied reports that the mutinous troops had seized control of southern parts of the capital, Bangui, despite reports of sporadic shooting there.

Soldiers from a rebellious army unit began firing shots and mortar shells into President Patasse's residence in Bangui at about 0200 local time (0100 GMT) on Monday.

The BBC correspondent in Bangui said that the situation was still tense in the city despite the claims that the army was in control.

The Central African Republic's recent political history has been marred by instability, and there were three army mutinies in the late 1990s.

Deaths

Mr Ndouba said seven people were killed in the mutiny attempt, but medical sources have put the death toll at 12, including rebels and civilians.

President Patasse was elected in 1993 after 12 years of military rule

Monday's shooting comes after months of demonstrations against Mr Patasse over the failure to pay civil service salaries.

History of tension

The southern areas of the capital are populated largely by ethnic groups from the south of the republic. They have long had grievances against Mr Patasse, who comes from the north.

This is almost a carbon copy of events that unfolded in 1996 when southern troops mutinied against the head of state.

On that occasion France sent in military forces to evacuate foreign nationals and to intervene on the side of Mr Patasse.

United Nations troops sent to Bangui to prevent a repetition of the unrest were only withdrawn last year.