A coup¹ has taken place in Niger and the president has been captured after a gun battle in the capital, Niamey.

尼日尔当前正发生一场政变，在经历一场枪战之后，总统在首都尼亚美被俘。

The president was seized in a gun battle in Niger's capital, Niamey

In a television announcement, a spokesman for the plotters（阴谋者，绘图机） said Niger's constitution had been suspended and all state institutions（政府机构） dissolved.

The country was now being led by a group called the Supreme² Council for the Restoration（恢复，修复） of Democracy (CSRD), the spokesman said.

President Mamadou Tandja is believed to be in captivity³ at a military barracks（兵营，简陋的房子） .

Reports say government ministers are also being held.

Making the announcement on television, the spokesman for the coup leaders, wearing a military uniform, was surrounded by a large group of soldiers.

He called on the people of Niger to "remain calm and stay united around the ideals postulated⁴（要求，假定） by the CSRD", to "make Niger an example of democracy and good governance".

"We call on national and international opinions to support us in our patriotic⁵ action to save Niger and its population from poverty, deception⁶（欺骗，欺诈） and corruption," he added.

A newsreader on Niger television said the country's borders had been closed and a curfew（宵禁） was now in force.

Tensions have been growing since last year in the uranium-rich nation.

Mr Tandja was widely criticised when he changed the constitution in August to allow him to stand for a third term.

Long-term tensions

A BBC correspondent said earlier that tanks were firing and witnesses reported seeing injured people being taken to hospital.

An unnamed French official told AFP that the president had been seized.

"All I can say is that it would appear that Tandja is not in a good position," he told the news agency on condition of anonymity⁷（在匿名的情况下） .

Soldiers captured Mr Tandja while he was chairing his weekly cabinet meeting, a government source told the BBC.

AFP later reported an official as saying Mr Tandja was possibly being held at a military barracks about 20km (13 miles) west of Niamey.

A witness told the news agency that the bodies of three soldiers had been taken to a military mortuary（太平间） .

The situation in Niamey remains⁸ unclear - there has apparently⁹ been no large-scale deployment¹⁰ of military personnel.

The government and opposition¹¹ have been holding on-off talks since December - mediated¹²（仲裁，调停） by the regional body Ecowas - to try to resolve the country's political crisis.