Foreign governments are taking steps to protect their citizens in Ivory Coast, after the country's new military leader warned that anyone who breached a dusk-to-dawn curfew would be shot on sight.

The security situation in the commercial capital, Abidjan, remains tense after a night of sporadic gunfire and wild looting following Friday's coup.

The United States embassy in the city warned its citizens to lock themselves inside their homes as reports came in that looting by soldiers and hooligans had spread from business districts to some residential areas.

Through a special radio warning system, the embassy said houses as well as shops were being targeted in the Deux Plateaux residential district, a well-off area popular with American expatriates.

"There is some looting of homes, but they're mainly going after the vehicles outside," one embassy official said.

France sends troops

Former colonial power France, which already has 550 troops garrisoned in the West African nation, said it was sending reinforcements to protect its citizens.

Forty soldiers are on their way to Ivory Coast from Libreville, Gabon, while 300 others are to be flown to Dakar in Senegal.

The French defence and foreign ministries said the aim was to protect some 20,000 French citizens.

Military experts said France would have enough troops to seal off Abidjan's airport should evacuations of foreigners prove necessary.

Britain has warned its citizens not to travel to Ivory Coast.

Foreign Office Minister Peter Hain said he "strongly condemned" the ousting of President Henri Konan Bedie, who is reportedly preparing to flee the country.

Other countries have also reacted frostily to the take-over, telling their citizens to avoid travelling to what was once one of West Africa's most stable states.