GABON COUP: SITUATION UNDER CONTROL; FOUR SOLDIERS ARRESTED

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An attempted coup by military officers in Gabon has been brought under control, the government spokesman has said.

“The government is in place. The institutions are in place,” Guy-Bertrand Mapangou told France 24.

He had earlier told Reuters that four officers who had taken over the national radio station were in custody. A fifth is still on the run.

Soldiers appeared on state media on Monday declaring they had launched a coup “to restore democracy” in the West African country.

They said they were unhappy with the leadership of President Ali Bongo, who is recovering from a stroke in Morocco.

Early on Monday a soldier who identified himself as Lieutenant Kelly Ondo Obiang, commander of the Republican Guard, read out a statement saying the military had seized control of the government.

He was flanked by two others holding weapons and all were dressed in camouflage uniforms and green berets.

A New Year’s eve address by Ali Bongo “reinforced doubts about the president’s ability to continue to carry out of the responsibilities of his office,” said the leader of the self-declared Patriotic Movement of the Defence and Security Forces of Gabon.

The radio message was broadcast at around 5.30am today.

A source close to the government said there were gunshots around the national television station, but that the plotters appeared to be a small group of soldiers.

A crowd of about 300 people had gathered at the station in support of the attempted coup, but soldiers fired tear gas to disperse them, Reuters reported.

Most of Libreville remained calm but there was a strong police and military presence on the street and helicopters circled overhead.

Bongo, 59, was hospitalised in October in Saudi Arabia after suffering a stroke.

He has been in Morocco since November to continue treatment.