MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government said its troops had retaken the presidential palace in the capital of Mogadishu Tuesday, after Islamic militants forced their way in and exchanged heavy gunfire with troops and guards.
Loud explosions and gunfire could be heard inside the heavily fortified compound, which has been the subject of many attacks by Al Qaeda-linked militants over the years. After more than two hours of fighting, Somalia’s presidency said in a Twitter update that ‘‘the shameful attack’’ had been foiled by Somalia’s armed forces and African Union peacekeepers.
It said that the ‘‘attack is over’’ and that the compound had been secured, but gave no details about any casualties or what happened to the militants.
Al Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a radio broadcast that its fighters had penetrated the presidential palace.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia was not inside the palace at the time of the attack, but the prime minister and the speaker of Parliament were, said Captain Mohamed Hussein, a senior police official.
The presidency said both Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed were safe.
The attack was the second assault on the presidential palace this year, and it marked the first time that militants have been able to breach the compound.