Benin's military was Monday searching for fugitive soldiers behind a foiled coup attempt on the weekend that left several dead as other west African countries mobilised to offer military support.

At least a dozen plotters had been arrested and by Monday all hostages, including high-ranking officers, had been released, according to loyalist military sources.

The country's economic capital Cotonou was calm and traffic had returned to normal by Monday afternoon, AFP journalists saw -- a day after a group of soldiers had announced on national television they had ousted the president.

President Patrice Talon made his own TV appearance late Sunday, assuring the country that the situation was "completely under control".

Talon, 67, is due to hand over the reins of power in April after the maxi

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