Yayi Boni has been in power for one year

The president, who has been in power for a year, was unhurt but several of his entourage were wounded in the attack on his convoy on Thursday night.

He was travelling near the town of Parakou on an election campaign tour when the attack happened.

There are no details on the identity or motives of the gunmen.

"The vehicle which was hit by the bullets was in the position which the head of state usually occupies. But this time he happened to have changed," presidential adviser Didier Akplogan told Reuters news agency.

Another adviser confirmed the president was unharmed.

"Unfortunately, in the exchange of fire between the presidential guard and the attackers several members of the presidential guard were wounded," AFP news agency quotes Edga Guididi as saying in a television interview.

Before his election last year, Mr Boni was a newcomer to Benin's political scene and had spent a lot of time abroad.

He quit his job as president of the Togo-based West African Development Bank (BOAD), where he had worked since 1994, to run for president.