New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday sharply condemned an apparent coup attempt in Guinea-Bissau.

Soldiers opened fire on the home of Guinea Bissau President Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira in the early hours of Sunday morning, less than two days after the results of a recent parliamentary election were announced, reports said.

However, it appeared by Sunday morning that the apparent coup attempt had failed as calm returned to the capital Bissau. It was not clear how many people died in the fighting, although some reports suggested at least two had been killed.

Ban called on the armed forces not to further destabilize the country and for an end to the cycle of "instability and disrespect for the democratic institutions."

"This violent action which comes so soon after the people of Guinea-Bissau, in legislative elections on 16 November, had massively manifested their desire for peaceful democratic governance, could have a devastating impact on the county's fragile stability," he said. (dpa)