'We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover,' Zimbabwe Major General SB Moyo says

Zimbabwe's military says it has seized power to target "criminals" around President Robert Mugabe, who it said is "safe and sound" in custody.

The army said it was securing government offices and patrolling the capital's streets, after a night of unrest which included a military takeover of the state broadcaster.

The action triggered speculation of a coup, but the military's supporters praised it as a "bloodless correction".

Read our rolling coverage of Wednesday's events, as they happened, below:

"We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover," Zimbabwe Major General SB Moyo, Chief of Staff Logistics, said on television.

"We are only targeting criminals around [Mr Mugabe] who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice.

"As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."

Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Show all 9 1 /9 Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices An armoured personnel carrier stations by an intersection as Zimbabwean soldiers regulate traffic in Harare AFP/Getty Images Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices An armed soldier patrols the street as members of the public cross the road AP Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Soldiers stand on the streets in Harare REUTERS Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices A military tank with armed soldiers on the road leading to President Robert Mugabe's office in Harare AP Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Armed soldiers search a vehicle AP Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices A military tank blocks the road leading to President Robert Mugabes office in Harare AP Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Zimbabwean soldiers regulate civilian traffic in Harare AFP/Getty Images Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices An army tank blocks the main road REUTERS Zimbabwe Crisis: Army block main road to government offices Military vehicles and soldiers patrol the streets in Harare REUTERS

Neither Mr Mugabe nor his wife Grace, who has been vying to succeed her husband as president, have been seen or heard from.

At least three explosions were heard in the capital, Harare, overnight, and military vehicles were seen in the streets.

The army has been praised by the nation's war veterans for carrying out "a bloodless correction of gross abuse of power."

The military will return Zimbabwe to "genuine democracy" and make the country a "modern model nation," Chris Mutsvangwa, chairman of the war veterans' association, told the Associated Press.

The US Embassy closed to the public on Wednesday and encouraged citizens to shelter in place, citing "the ongoing political uncertainty through the night."