Today's Edition
Cotonou (AFP)
Around a dozen soldiers have been arrested in Benin following an attempted coup, including the ringleaders of the foiled operation, military and security sources told AFP on Sunday.
One source said 13 arrests had been made, with another adding that all the detainees were soldiers in active service except one who was ex-military.
Benin's government on Sunday said it had thwarted an attempted coup, after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon.
But shortly after the announcement, a source close to Talon told AFP the president was safe and condemned the coup plotters.
"The regular army is regaining control. The city (Cotonou) and the country are completely secure," they said. "It's just a matter of time before everything returns to normal. The clean-up is progressing well."
The US embassy in Cotonou, in a social media post, advised its nationals to avoid the area around the presidential compound and "keep a low profile".
France's embassy recommended its citizens in Benin remain indoors.
'Under control'
On television, eight soldiers with assault rifles, wearing berets of various colours and saying they represented the CMR, proclaimed a lieutenant colonel "president" of their "refoundation" committee.
A military source confirmed that the situation was "under control" and the coup plotters had not taken either Talon's residence or the presidential offices.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which Benin is a member, called the soldiers' actions "unconstitutional" and a "subversion of the will of the Beninese people".
The African Union said it "unequivocally condemns" the attempted coup and urged soldiers to return to their barracks.
