Congo President Reportedly Wounded in Coup

K I N S H A S A, Congo, Jan. 16 -- Congolese President Laurent Kabila has reportedly been shot and badly wounded during an apparent coup attempt today, a source told ABCNEWS.

A senior military official in the neighboring Republic of Congo also said Kabila was wounded during an intense 30-minute gunbattle at his palatial residence in the capital.

There has been no confirmation from the Congolese government.

Congolese officials have made requests to the Belgian government for medical assistance, and South Africa has confirmed the coup attempt, the source said.

The request for Belgian doctors suggests Kabila's wounds are serious because Kabila has his own doctors, and Congolese officials would not call in outsiders unless it was serious.

Intelligence officials in Rwanda, which supports rebels battling Kabila's government, said they had unconfirmed reports Kabila was dead.

The Republic of Congo official, who spoke on condition of anonymity from his country's capital of Brazzaville, said Kabila was shot and that it was not known who was in control of Congo's government.

Shortly after the gunfire erupted, Kabila aide Eddy Kapend went on national television to appeal for calm. Kapend ordered all airports and borders closed, but gave no other details and made no mention of the violence.

Later, a presidential helicopter landed at Kinshasa's main hospital, a government official who witnessed the event said, and there were unconfirmed reports the aircraft was carrying Kabila's son Joseph Kabila, who had apparently been injured.

Hundreds of Americans in Congo

There are 400 Americans living in Congo, but based on current information, they are in no danger, said a source familiar with the situation. It could become dangerous, however, if the military unravels, and looting and civil unrest begins but right now the city is calm.

Kabila's hilltop residence near downtown Kinshasa, known as the Marble Palace, is surrounded by soldiers but it is not known if the are forces loyal to Kabila or not. Kabila's palace is usually heavily guarded by soldiers and a North Korean-made tank.