CONAKRY - Heavily armed assailants attacked the residence of Guinean President Alpha Conde early on Tuesday but Conde escaped injury and is in safety, a presidency source and eyewitnesses said.

"The president was there, but he is safe and sound," said the presidency source, adding that there had been substantial damage to the residence in a suburb of the capital Conakry from gunfire and rocket launchers. The attack had been repelled by Conde's guards, the source said.