Guinea-Bissau: Many dead after coup attempt, president says

A reported coup in the West African state of Guinea-Bissau has left many members of the security forces dead, its president says.

Umaro Cissoko Embaló said the situation was under control, calling it a “failed attack against democracy”.

Gunfire erupted near a government building on Tuesday in the capital Bissau where the president was reportedly attending a cabinet meeting.

Soldiers are said to have detained the president and his ministers.