MOGADISHU (Reuters) -Somali government forces were fighting on Saturday to repel al Shabaab militants who stormed a high-security underground prison in the capital Mogadishu, a witness and the government said.

Godka Jilaow, near the Villa Somalia presidential palace compound, houses several fighters from the al Shabaab group, which has waged an insurgency in Somalia since 2007 and made significant advances in the countryside this year.

“We heard a huge blast at the cell gate and soon an exchange of gunfire started,” a paramilitary soldier in the area who gave his name as Ahmed told Reuters. “More forces were deployed to eliminate the fighters. (The) operation (is) still ongoing.”

AL SHABAAB CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY

Residents near the area also confirmed the blast and exchange of gunfire.

See Full Page