Briefly

BENIN

Government says 'foiled' coup attempt

Benin's government said on Sunday that it had thwarted an attempted coup, after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon, months ahead of the presidential election scheduled for April. Early on Sunday, soldiers calling themselves the "Military Committee for Refoundation" said on state broadcaster that they had met and decided that Talon was "removed from office as president of the republic". But shortly after the announcement, a source close to Talon told AFP the president was safe and condemned the coup plotters as "a small group of people who only control the television". "The regular army is regaining control. The city (Cotonou) and the country are completely secure," the source said.

SOUTH AFRICA

Shooting in Pretoria hostel leaves 12 dead

Gunmen stormed a hostel in Pretoria, South Africa, on Saturday, killing a dozen people, including a 3-year-old child. "I can confirm that a total of 25 people were shot," police spokeswoman Athlenda Mathe said. Ten had died at the scene in Saulsville township, 18 kilometers west of Pretoria, while two died in hospital, she said. Three gunmen entered what Mathe described as an "illegal shebeen" inside the hostel at around 4:30 am and indiscriminately fired at a group of men who were drinking. "Shebeen" is a term used to describe an informal bar or tavern.

Agencies - Xinhua