Al-Qaeda-affiliated group in Somalia, Shebab, launched on Friday a major suicide commando attack against the heavily-fortified presidential palace.

Al-Qaeda-affiliated group in Somalia, Shebab, launched on Friday a major suicide commando attack against the heavily-fortified presidential palace.

Police and witnesses said a huge car bomb exploded at the perimeter of the central Mogadishu complex, and a group of around a dozen suicide attackers breached the Villa Somalia compound, home to the country's internationally-backed government.

The UN's special envoy to Somalia said the country's president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, had telephoned to say he was unharmed in the attack against the complex, one of the best-defended locations in the war-torn country.

"There is a large attack on the presidential palace. Initial reports are that a suicide car bomber hit the gate and exploded, then men with guns followed," police officer Mohamed Ali told AFP. Another source said he saw at least nine gunmen attack.

"Security forces are dealing with terrorists who blew up a car... and there is exchange of fire. We have no details of the casualties but of course there are casualties," said Ahmed Moalim Adan, a security official near the scene of the attack.

Shortly after the attack, Shebab claimed the attack, with its military spokesman told AFP that the group was behind the attack.

"Our commandos have attacked the so-called presidential palace in order to kill or arrest those who who are inside," Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab said.
"We are still holding some of the buildings and the fighting is continuing. The enemy had suffered a great deal of harm but I don't have the exact casualty figures," he added.

The attack came just a week after the insurgents carried out a suicide car bomb attack at the gates of Mogadishu's heavily-fortified international airport, and the Shebab spokesman said the group wanted to show "that no place is safe for the apostate government".