Soldiers from the presidential guard in The Gambia have tried to stage a coup, according to AFP news agency, quoting military and diplomatic sources.

The report came in the wake of heavy gunfire which erupted near the presidential palace in Banjul, capital of the West African country.

The fighting was reported while President Yahya Jammeh, who seized power in a coup in 1994 and stands accused of leading one of the most repressive regimes in Africa, was abroad.

There has been no official comment on the shooting, but a military source told AFP that the attackers had been beaten back.

“They wanted to overthrow the regime,” the unnamed officer is quoted as saying.

President Jammeh, who also claims to be a native doctor, is believed to be in either France or Dubai. He has zero tolerance for challenges to his authority and heads are expected to roll if the coup attempt is successfully resisted by forces loyal to him.

•Photo shows Gambian President Yahya Jammeh.