Niger's ruling junta said it was back in control after mutinous soldiers set off armed clashes in Niger's capital Saturday, moving on the presidential palace and disrupting the state broadcaster.
Niger has been ruled for three years by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani that has struggled to contain jihadist violence flaring in the west African country for around a decade.
After hours of heavy exchanges around some of Niamey's most sensitive sites, the junta declared in a statement read on state television that it was gradually taking back control after hours of clashes.
By Saturday evening, diplomatic and security sources told AFP that members of Niger's presidential guard, helped by Russian forces, had recaptured the key Air Force Base 101, killing some of the mutineers.
When fighting broke out shortly after midnight, soldiers blocked access to the presidential palace and the national television station, Tele Sahel, which went off the air for just over an hour, before being restored around 10:00 am (0900 GMT).
"There was an attempt by insurgents from the Nigerien armed forces to enter the presidential palace," a security source told AFP, adding that the presidential guard had pushed them back.
Niger's defence minister, General Salifou Mody, said on state television that a group of soldiers had held some troops hostage at a barracks in Niamey, opening fire at "certain sensitive sites" in the city, without specifying which ones.
Troops and security forces had quickly taken back control, he added, calling on local people to remain calm.
The first shots were heard at about 1:00 am local time and continued until daybreak, according to a video published by a local journalist filming the area around the airport.