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Gambia rocked by shooting while Jammeh abroad Gambia government denies coup plot against Yahya Jammeh
(about 7 hours later)
Heavy gunfire has erupted near the presidential palace in The Gambia's capital, Banjul, reports say. The Gambia's government has denied there has been an attempt to overthrow President Yahya Jammeh while he is abroad.
Details are sketchy but military and diplomatic sources say soldiers from the presidential guard tried to stage a coup, AFP news agency reports. A statement broadcast on state radio said that "contrary to rumours being circulated, peace and calm continue to prevail" in the West African state.
The fighting was reported while President Yahya Jammeh is abroad. Heavy gunfire had earlier erupted near the presidential palace in the capital.
Mr Jammeh seized power in a coup in 1994 and his critics accuse him of leading one of the most repressive regimes in Africa. Mr Jammeh seized power in a coup in 1994 and his critics accuse him of ruling with an iron-hand.
There has been no official comment on the shooting, but a military source told AFP that the attackers had been beaten back. Diplomatic and military sources said soldiers from the presidential guard appeared to have mounted the attack on the presidential palace in Banjul in the early hours of Tuesday.
"They wanted to overthrow the regime," the unnamed officer is quoted as saying. A British teacher in Bakau, about seven kilometres (four miles) from Banjul, told the BBC that The Gambia had shut its nearby land borders with Senegal.
Some media reports say Mr Jammeh is on a visit to France, while others say he is in Dubai. "Most of the big shops are closed at this point but there's absolutely no military or police presence," he said.
'Bizarre views'
Banjul residents told AFP news agency that security forces were positioned on street corners and carrying out patrols.
State radio had been off-air during the fighting, but resumed transmission later.
In radio statement, the announcer said "peace and calm continue to prevail" in The Gambia.
"[The] government would like to urge the public and all businesses to continue with their normal activities," it added.
The statement did not clarify Mr Jammeh's whereabouts. Some media reports say he is on a visit to France, while others say he is in Dubai.
In 2011, Mr Jammeh told the BBC he would rule The Gambia for "a billion years".In 2011, Mr Jammeh told the BBC he would rule The Gambia for "a billion years".
He has won four disputed elections since taking power as a 29-year-old army officer.
Mr Jammeh is known for expressing bizarre views. In 2007, he claimed that he could cure Aids with a herbal concoction - a view condemned by health experts.
Later, he also claimed that he could cure infertility among women.
Mr Jammeh is also known for his virulent opposition to gay rights, having once threatened to behead gay people.
The tiny West African state, with its sandy beaches, is a popular tourist destination.The tiny West African state, with its sandy beaches, is a popular tourist destination.