Heavy gunfire heard on streets of Congo capital

Heavy gunfire has been heard in the streets of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, where security forces have been deployed.

A police station and a government building were attacked on Monday morning in the Makelekele district.

Reuters news agency reports that young opposition supporters were chanting "Sassou, leave!" in the same area.

It comes weeks after Denis Sassou Nguesso won a third term as president in a disputed poll.

Mr Sassou Nguesso has been in power since 1979, except for a five-year period after losing elections in 1992.

The opposition has said the March election was marred by "massive fraud".

An anonymous official told the AP news agency that police are fighting the so-called Ninja militia group.

Civil wars and militia conflicts have plagued the country.

The Ninjas were a main anti-government force in Congo-Brazzaville's 1997-99 civil war.

They were loyal to former Prime Minister Bernard Kolelas and signed a peace deal with the government in 2003.