President Joseph Kabila has instructed his army chief of staff to restore order in the Democratic Republic of Congo after security forces put down an apparent coup attempt by members of his personal guard.
The coup's alleged ringleader, identified as Major Eric Lenge, fled the capital, Kinshasa, after briefly seizing state radio early yesterday and declaring himself in control.
A presidential spokesman said he was still at large on today.
There were no signs of unrest in Kinshasa, with the city's main boulevard filled with traders and people shoppers.
Many residents cast doubt on the official version of events, suggesting Mr Kabila's camp may have staged the radio station takeover to make it easier for the president to declare a state of emergency for other reasons.
In an address to the nation on television and radio last night, President Kabila praised the army and security forces for swiftly ending the insurrection without loss of life or significant property damage.
"I have given precise instructions to the chief of staff of the army to restore order and calm...I want to reassure the population, especially the people in the capital, that the situation is under control," he said.
Friday's events were the second apparent coup attempt in less than three months and added to concerns hanging over the country prompted by recent fighting in the mineral-rich east and uncertainty over the stability of the transitional government.
Mr Kabila, who came to power in 2001 after his father Laurent was shot dead by a bodyguard, established the power-sharing government last year. Its stated aim is to draw a line under five years of civil war and prepare for elections by 2005.