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Gunfire rocks DR Congo TV and airport DR Congo 'repulses' attack on TV station
(35 minutes later)
Gunfire has been heard at several locations in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, including the state TV and radio headquarters and the airport. The Democratic Republic of Congo's army has repulsed an attack by an "unknown terrorist group" on the state TV headquarters, the government says.
Youths armed with machetes and guns had taken reporters hostage, a police spokesman told the AFP news agency. At least three of the attackers were killed and a number of them were arrested, Information Minister Lambert Mende told the BBC.
A customs official told Reuters that gunmen began shooting at the international airport shortly after the attack on RTNC's headquarters. Gunfire was also heard at the international airport and at a military base in the capital, Kinshasa.
The information minister says the situation was now under control. He did not confirm these attacks, but said the city was returning to normal.
Lambert Mende told BBC Africa at about 11.00 local time (10:00 GMT) that several arrests had been made. 'Shooting everywhere'
The cause of the attacks was not clear, he said. Mr Mende said the attackers at the state TV and radio headquarters were armed with weapons such as knives, and there was "no chance of them even to maintain their positions, even for a single hour".
Earlier, there were also reports of gunfire from a military base in the city. "People were frightened when security personnel were firing against these attackers," the minister told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme.
A taxi driver told AFP he heard about "six or seven shots" from heavy weapons fired at the Tshatshi camp. The shots were heard between 09:00 and 09:30 local time. He said he had visited the RTNC headquarters and the situation was under control.
The Ndjili airport customs official told the Reuters news agency: "Shooting has started here. They are shooting everywhere. We are all hiding." Mr Mende said he understood that two staff members who were being forced to read a statement on TV were safe.
Congolese security forces were reported to be at the scene at the state media headquarters. Reuters news agency said the statement appeared to be a political message against President Joseph Kabila's government.
Before the channels went off air, two gunmen appeared on camera to deliver what appeared to be a political message against President Joseph Kabila's government, Reuters reports.
"Gideon Mukungubila has come to free you from the slavery of the Rwandan," said the message, according to Reuters."Gideon Mukungubila has come to free you from the slavery of the Rwandan," said the message, according to Reuters.
In 1997, Rwandan-backed troops ousted DR Congo's long-serving ruler Mobutu Sese Seko and installed Laurent Kabila - the father of incumbent leader Joseph Kabila - as president.In 1997, Rwandan-backed troops ousted DR Congo's long-serving ruler Mobutu Sese Seko and installed Laurent Kabila - the father of incumbent leader Joseph Kabila - as president.
President Joseph Kabila won his second term in office two years ago. According to Reuters news agency, Gideon is the nickname used for religious leader Paul Joseph Mukungubila by his followers. He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2006.
Mr Mende said the government had not yet established the reason for the attack.
President Joseph Kabila, who won his second term in office two years ago, was touring the Katanga province and was not under any threat, he added.
The armed youths stormed the studio around 08:40 local time (07:40 GMT) during a live magazine programme, shouting slogans - one of which in French said "for the liberation of Congo".
In a separate incident, a taxi driver told AFP that he had heard about "six or seven shots" from heavy weapons fired at the Tshatshi military camp. The shots were heard between 09:00 and 09:30 local time.
After RTNC went off air, a customs official at Ndjili airport told Reuters: "Shooting has started here. They are shooting everywhere. We are all hiding."
Kinshasa RTNC TV has now resumed normal programming - at 09:20 local time signals were restored and at 10:00 the station carried a news bulletin in French which did not mention the incident.
The US embassy in Kinshasa has advised all US citizens not to travel around the city until further notice.
"The embassy has received multiple reports of armed engagements and fighting around Kinshasa… The embassy has also received reports that there are police and military checkpoints and barricades in many places," it said in a statement posted on its Facebook page at 10:00 local time.