By Tom McKinley BBC, Freetown

Sierra Leone's hard-earned peace and stability was put into question on Monday morning when shooting broke out in the capital, Freetown.

Gunfire was heard in the east of the city, putting UN peacekeepers and local authorities on high alert.

UK paratroops have been replaced by military advisers

But the situation was soon brought under control and has since been downplayed.

The shooting began in the early hours in eastern Freetown, in and around an army barracks.

It provoked numerous rumours that Sierra Leone was suffering yet another coup.

But such rumours are at this stage alarmist, and police are treating the incident as nothing more than criminal activity.

The situation was quickly brought under control by the army with support from United Nations peacekeepers and the police.

Thirteen people have been arrested, among them two soldiers.

But the involvement of soldiers in an attack on a military compound is cause for concern.

Motive unknown

The barracks house a relatively large armoury of weapons, the likely target of the attack.

The involvement of soldiers in past coups lends weight to speculation.

But no motive has been established and the efficient manner in which this incident was dealt with is encouraging.

More than 120 British military advisers continue to prop up the newly-trained Sierra Leone army.

The country still boasts the largest UN peacekeeping force in the world.

This latest incident is likely to be viewed as unfortunate, but of no consequence to continuing stability in Sierra Leone.