Unidentified gunmen stormed Central African Republic's state-owned radio in the capital Bangui early on Tuesday in a failed attempt to force entry into the main studio, the broadcaster said, Reuters reported.

An unknown number of assailants attacked the radio's offices, which were being guarded by three gendarmes, at around 1 a.m. (0000 GMT), the station announced.

'They shattered the control board and headed for Studio A, but weren't able to break down the door,' it said.

Having failed to enter the studio, the attackers briefly took one of the gendarmes hostage before abandoning him with a broken arm.