Islamic militants belonging to the Al Shabaab Group launched an attack into the presidential compound in Mogadishu Tuesday, setting off a car bomb and exchanging automatic gunfire with palace guards.

Overnight, Somali guards and African Union peacekeepers were able to repulse the attack, which resulted in an undetermined number of casualties.

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Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is safe and is being guarded at an undisclosed location.

Interviewed by Reuters, Interior Minister Abdullahi Godah Barre said the president was not in the compound when the attack happened and was at another location attending an iftar, a meal to break the Ramadan fast.

Barre said an undetermined number of militants detonated a car bomb at the gate of the compound to gain entry, but was repulsed by security forces.

The attackers were reported to have made it to a parking area near the offices of the prime minister, but were not able to get near the presidential quarters.

Since February, security was tightened in the compound and stronger gates were added, after the Al Shabaab launched an initial assault that month.

Somali security forces are backed up by soldiers belonging to an African Union peacekeeping force sent to Mogadishu earlier to beef up security against the Al Shabaab.

An Al Shabaab spokesman interviewed by Reuters said fighting was still raging through the night, and that 14 government soldiers have been killed. The spokesman challenged Somali officials to enter the palace in the morning and meet them when the fighting is over.

But General Abdi Anod, security chief of the presidential palace, said the attackers have been repulsed and the compound is under the control of Somali and African Union soldiers. He did not give a tally of the number of casualties, saying his troops were still identifying bodies.

Anod could not provide reports of damage to the compound and said details will be clear in the morning.

A separate report said at least 12 have been killed in the attack, including some government soldiers.

The Somalia-based Al Shabaab is active in the rural regions and is attempting to establish a fundamentalist Islamic government in the country. 

TagsMogadishu, Somalia, Al Shabaab