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Somali UN compound attacked in Mogadishu Somali UN compound attacked in Mogadishu
(35 minutes later)
Gunmen have entered a UN office in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, firing their weapons, following a loud explosion, witnesses have said. A gun-battle has lasted for more than an hour inside a UN office in the Somali capital, witnesses say.
A cameraman outside the UN Development Programme office told the BBC soldiers from the African Union force and Somali army were fighting the men inside. A cameraman outside the UN Development Programme office told the BBC a suicide bomber blew up a car at its entrance and he saw four gunmen enter.
He said a suicide bomber blew up a car at the entrance to the office, and he saw four gunmen enter. Officials says pro-government forces have now secured the compound in Mogadishu, but details on casualties are not yet clear.
Islamist militants often target government facilities in the city. The al-Qaeda group al-Shabab said its militants were behind the attack.
The AFP news agency is reporting that the Islamist group al-Shabab, which is part of the al-Qaeda network, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Somalia has not had an effective national government for more than 20 years, during which much of the country has been a constant war-zone.
"Our commandos have attacked the UN compound... we set off an explosion and have entered the compound, where we are fighting with the infidel forces," it quotes an al-Shabab official as saying. But a UN-backed government now controls most of the country's main cities after ousting al-Shabab.
The UN Development Programme office is next to the heavily fortified airport in southern Mogadishu.The UN Development Programme office is next to the heavily fortified airport in southern Mogadishu.
"A suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of the UNDP and then several armed fighters went in and opened fire," a senior police official told the Reuters news agency."A suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of the UNDP and then several armed fighters went in and opened fire," a senior police official told the Reuters news agency.
The cameraman, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told the BBC Somali Service that some people had been wounded in the blast and he had personally helped three people to a military ambulance.The cameraman, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told the BBC Somali Service that some people had been wounded in the blast and he had personally helped three people to a military ambulance.
Residents in the area have fled and some buildings were seriously damaged after the vehicle exploded, he said. Local residents have fled and some buildings were seriously damaged after the vehicle exploded, he said.
It is unclear whether any UN officials have been caught up in the gun battle, but foreigners and Somalis are known to work at the UNDP office, the cameraman said. It is unclear whether any UN officials have been caught up in the gun-battle, but foreigners and Somalis are known to work at the UNDP office, the cameraman said.
As he was talking to the BBC, gunshots could be heard in the background. As he was talking to the BBC at about 09:30 GMT, gunshots could be heard in the background.
The cameraman said a number of security experts had joined the AU and Somali soldiers in tackling the militants.The cameraman said a number of security experts had joined the AU and Somali soldiers in tackling the militants.
Al-Shabab withdrew from Mogadishu in August 2011 under pressure from pro-government forces, but continue to launch occasional suicide attacks in the city. Just after 10:15 GMT al-Shabab said on its Twitter feed: "We've just contacted the Mujahideen inside the #UNDP and they are still fighting some western mercenaries inside the compound."
Later it said it had killed some foreigners in the raid.
"The situation is under control now... Somali soldiers along with African Union forces stormed the compound and killed the attackers," Somali police official Abdulahi Osman told the AFP news agency.
Al-Shabab, which had been in control of Mogadishu for more than two years, withdrew in August 2011 under pressure from pro-government forces, but continue to launch occasional suicide attacks in the city.
It has also been pushed out of other cities, but still remains in control of smaller towns and large swathes of the countryside in central and southern Somalia.
The improving security situation has prompted the return of Somalis from the diaspora and allowed UN agencies and foreign embassies to return to the country.The improving security situation has prompted the return of Somalis from the diaspora and allowed UN agencies and foreign embassies to return to the country.
Some 18,000 AU troops are in the country supporting the new UN-backed government. Some 18,000 AU troops are in the country supporting the government.