Gunfire has been heard in Mauritania's capital, Nouakchott, where soldiers are reported to have taken control of the state radio and television station and blocked off streets leading to the presidential building.

Witnesses say no state media reports have broadcast since this morning.

The situation comes as President Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya is in Saudi Arabia.

Details are still coming in.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.