CAIRO, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Foreign Ministry condemned on Monday the coup attempt in Gabon, a statement by the ministry said.

"Egypt stands by the legitimate authority in Gabon in accordance with the African Union's governing principles," the statement read, calling for respecting the rule of the law and the constitution in the West African country.

The chief military rebel who led a failed coup in Gabon on Monday has been arrested and two of his commandos were killed after they stormed a public radio station, the Gabonese presidency said earlier in the day.

Six rebel troops earlier Monday burst into the state radio broadcasting station, "neutralizing" gendarmes in front of the building before making their broadcast, it said.

Security forces stormed the radio station in the capital Libreville to take it back, killing two rebels, arresting their leader and freeing journalists who had been forced to help rebels make their appeal.

"The situation is under control," the presidency statement said.

Gabon's President Ali Bongo is currently recovering in Morocco, after suffering a stroke in late October 2018.