France, Aug. 29 -- As the clashes broke out, soldiers blocked access to the presidential palace and national television, with Tele Sahel going off air for just over an hour on Saturday morning before being restored around 10am (9GMT).

"There was an attempt by insurgents from the Nigerien armed forces to enter the presidential palace," a security source told AFP, adding that "they were pushed back by the presidential guard".

Niger's defence minister, General Salifou Mody, in a statement read on state television, said a group of soldiers held some troops hostage at a barracks in Niamey and opened fire at "certain sensitive sites" in the city, without naming them.

"The prompt reaction of the defence and security forces made it possible to...