Guinea's defense ministry said on Sunday in an official press release that "the Presidential Guard, supported by the defense and security forces, contained the threat and pushed back the group of insurgents."

According to the statement, it was in the early hours of the day that Conakry, the capital, has witnessed heavy gunfire perpetrated by elements of the Special Forces Group.

The defense ministry specified in the press release that "the insurgents sowed fear and disturbed the peace of the people on the outskirts of the Presidential Palace".

"Security and sweeping operations are continuing to restore order and peace" and the President of the Republic, Alpha Conde called on the people to calm and asked them to vigilance during military operations.

Earlier, "army putschists" said that they had captured Guinea's president and dissolved the government, according to media reports.

Heavy gunfire from automatic weapons was heard on Sunday in the urban commune of Kaloum, downtown Conakry, in Guinea. According to a witness contacted by telephone by Xinhua, these shots came from the military garrison known as "Camp Almamy Samory Toure", which houses the defense ministry and the national army staff.