Somali soldiers stand guard at the main gate of the presidential palace in Mogadishu, Somalia, Wednesday, July, 9, 2014. Somali troops retook the presidential palace in the capital of Mogadishu after militants forced their way in and exchanged heavy gunfire with troops and guards Tuesday, the latest attack underscoring the threat posed by Islamic extremist group al-Shabab in east Africa. Smoke billowed from inside the heavily-fortified presidential compound, and loud explosions and gunfire could be heard as troops tried to repel the intruders. 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 fighting alongside African Union peacekeepers. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh
Militiamen in Somalia have attacked army positions in the capital, Mogadishu, close to the Presidential Palace, the country’s government has said.
In a short statement, the security minister said the attack had been repelled.
Residents reported hearing the sound of heavy gunfire.
It came hours before Somali opposition parties plan to hold a protest against President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo remaining in office.
His term expired last week, without the selection of a successor, throwing Somalia into a political crisis.
President Farmajo is expected to hold a meeting with Somalia’s five regional presidents as part of efforts to end the deadlock
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