Niger's President Mamadou Tandja (R) waves upon his arrival to welcome France's President Nicolas Sarkozy at Diori Hamari airport in Niamey March 27, 2009. [File Photo]

A group of soldiers launched a military coup in Niamey, capital of Niger, on Thursday, seizing the country's president, Mamadou Tandja, said reports from Niamey.

The soldiers in armored vehicles stormed the presidential palace with gunfires, and said they had dissolved the government, said the reports.

"The government is dissolved," said a spokesman for the military junta, named the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD), in a statement on state television.

The CSRD said its head would be squadron leader Salou Djibo, whose heavily armed troops played a major role in Thursday's coup.

"We, the defense and security forces, have decided to take responsibilities for putting an end to the tense political situation that you are already aware of," said the CSRD spokesman.

The CSRD said it "has decided to suspend the constitution of the Sixth Republic and dissolve all its institutions."

The statement did not mention the whereabouts of Tandja, but reports said he had been seized along with several other ministers.

Fierce shooting lasted between midday (1200 GMT) and 2:00 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Thursday. Several people were injured in the fighting and sent to a hospital in Niamey.

In another development, France has advised its citizens not to travel to Niger while warning those in Niamey to stay indoors.

Niger, a former French colony, gained independence in 1960. Local media estimate that there are around 1,500 French nationals living in the central-west African country, while 500 Europeans reside in Niamey.

Tandja, who has been elected twice since 1999, drew criticism at home and international sanctions after managing to amend the constitution last year to pursue a third term of office.

The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States deemed the move as unconstitutional and suspended Niger to press it to restore the constitutional order.

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