Guinea-Bissau President Says Situation Is ‘Under Control’

Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo said the situation was under control after the West African regional bloc urged soldiers to return to their barracks in a bid to prevent what could become the fourth armed coup in one of its member-nations in less than a year.

“I’m fine,” Embalo said in a tweet, hours after automatic gunfire erupted in the capital, Bissau, on Tuesday as Embalo met with his cabinet. The shooting interrupted the meeting and led to a stampede, Radio France Internationale reported. Armed cordons have been placed around some official buildings and schools have been closed, the broadcaster said on its website.