The President of Niger, Mamadou Tandja, has been captured by the military in an apparent coup on Thursday afternoon.

Media reports from the neighboring Nigeria say gunfire erupted at about mid-day GMT, and that soldiers were seen deployed around the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey. A military vehicle was seen carrying bodies of soldiers killed in the firefight.

State radio is reported to be airing military songs since the capture of the president.

Mamadou Tanja changed the constitution late last year to enable him stay in power after he had served for more than a decade.