“The government is following the events in Guinea Bissau with great concern,” the government in Lisbon said after troops attacked the prime minister’s residence in Bissau and seized the ruling party headquarters and national radio.

“The Portuguese government is appealing for a halt to the violence and respect for the law,” a foreign ministry spokesman said in a note to AFP, adding that the situation in Guinea Bissau was still unclear.

The government urged its nationals in the country to stay indoors.