The South Sudanese president declared a curfew in the capital Juba on Monday after clashes overnight between rival factions of soldiers.
The fighting broke out following months of tension after President Salva Kiir sacked his deputy Riek Machar in July. Kiir blamed troops loyal to Machar for the violence.
Flanked by ministers and wearing combat fatigues rather than civilian clothes, Kiir declared an overnight curfew in Juba effective from Monday night. It would run each night from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., he said.
An unidentified person had initially fired shots in the air near a conference being held by the ruling party, Kiir said.
"This was followed later by an attack at the SPLA headquarters near Juba University by a group of soldiers allied to the former vice-president Dr Riek Machar and his group. These attacks continued until this morning," he said.
"However, I would like to inform you, at the outset, that your government is in full control of the security situation in Juba".
Kiir and Machar are from rival ethnic groups which have clashed in the past. Witnesses said the sound of gunfire and artillery fire had subsided by late Monday morning.
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A South Sudanese official said a group of disgruntled soldiers and politicians led by a former vice president have attempted to overthrow the government.
South Sudanese Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said Monday some troops within the main army base raided the weapons store and were repulsed. Benjamin said casualties from fighting Monday morning are still unknown.
He said some politicians have been arrested but could not confirm if former Vice President Riek Machar, who he said led the attempt, was among them.
This as, the UN envoy for South Sudan called for an end to fighting that erupted overnight between soldiers in Africa's newest nation and said she was in touch with the country's leaders.
"I urge all parties in the fighting to cease hostilities immediately and exercise restraint," UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General Hilde Johnson said in a statement.
"I have been in touch regularly with the key leaders... to call for calm".
REUTERS/AP