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Somali presidential palace: 'Car bomb' attack in Mogadishu Somali presidential palace: 'Car bomb' attack in Mogadishu
(35 minutes later)
A car bomb has exploded at the gates of Somalia's presidential palace, followed by an attack by gunmen, police in Mogadishu say. A huge car bomb has exploded at the gates of Somalia's presidential palace, followed by a fierce gun battle inside, officials say.
A fierce gunfight is now said to be underway inside the compound. It is not clear how many people died in the attack but a minister told the BBC the situation was "under control".
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called the UN envoy to Somalia to say he was not harmed during the attack, envoy Nick Kay has tweeted. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has told the UN envoy to Somalia he was not harmed, envoy Nick Kay has tweeted.
The UN-backed government is battling al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab for control of the country. The al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab has said it carried out the attack, which it said was still ongoing.
Senior police officer Abdikadir Ahmed told the Reuters news agency the fighting was going on in the house of a military commander within the presidential compound, near the palace.Senior police officer Abdikadir Ahmed told the Reuters news agency the fighting was going on in the house of a military commander within the presidential compound, near the palace.
"The car bomb hit and exploded and other al-Shabab cars with armed men drove inside the palace, and heavy fighting is still going on," he said."The car bomb hit and exploded and other al-Shabab cars with armed men drove inside the palace, and heavy fighting is still going on," he said.
Mr Kay said: "Sadly some lives lost. I condemn strongly this terrorism." Security Minister Abdi Karim Hussein told the BBC Somali service that some of the attackers had been killed and others captured.
He said all of the country's leaders were safe.
Al-Shabab military spokesman Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab said militants were still in control of some buildings inside the presidential compound.
"Our commandos have attacked the so-called presidential palace in order to kill or arrest those who who are inside," he told the AFP news agency.
Mr Kay said the attack on Villa Somalia had "failed".
"Sadly some lives lost. I condemn strongly this terrorism," he said.