Fighting erupted late on Monday with presidential guard units loyal to ousted President Amadou Toumani Toure stationed throughout the capital in Mali.

A Reuters witness near the broadcaster's main building said that gun and heavy weapons fire continued both near the TV studio and airport right into Tuesday morning. Another witness reported seeing pro Captain Sanago soldiers standing over two dead bodies of pro President soldiers.

However In a broadcast on the country's state television, an unamed soldier speaking in French on behalf of Mali's military junta Captain Amadou Haya Sanogo. confirmed it remained in control of key sites in and around the capital after an attempted counter-coup backed by foreigners.

"The National committee, for the restructuring of democracy and the restoration of the State, CNRDRE, brings to the attention of the Malian people and the international community, that individuals with bad intentions got away with attacking the Kati military base, the ORTM and the international airport of Bamako Senou, in order to destabilise the process to return to normal constitutional order."

The coup, has drawn broad international criticism as a major setback for regional democracy.