Banjul, Dec 30 (IANS): Several military officers were`arrested after a foiled military coup in the Gambian capital Banjul, military sources said Tuesday.

"The state house was attacked by the disloyal forces to the state between the hours of 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.," the military sources, who declined to be named, told Xinhua.

"Residents outside the capital were not allowed entry and both commuters and commercial vehicles ordered to return, while those in the capital were also asked to close shops and offices for security reasons," the sources said.

Sporadic heavy shooting were heard overnight in Banjul, although it is not yet confirmed who were behind the coup.

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh is currently in Dubai on a four-day working visit.

He will run for his fifth presidential term in 2016.

Military forces have also launched mass arrests of soldiers suspected to be involved in the Banjul shootout, although the name of the ring leader has not yet been disclosed but military sources said one lieutenant Sanneh, a former state guard commander, was among the attackers.

President Jammeh came to power in a military coup in 1994.