Heavy fighting has been raging inside Somalia's presidential palace after at least five suspected al-Shabab fighters stormed the complex in the capital, Mogadishu.

Al Jazeera's correspondent reported an explosion followed by sounds of gunfire inside the compound on Tuesday evening.

There were no confirmed reports of casualties but an official at the presidential palace spoke of deaths among the fighters.

"The militants have partly entered the presidential palace compound. There is periodic gunfire now," the official told the Reuters news agency.

"I understand most attackers have been killed. No further details."

The interior minister told Reuters that the Somali president was not hurt in attack as he was not there at the time.

Al-Shabab confirmed they were involved.

"We have entered the so-called presidential palace. We have now captured some parts of the palace and fighting is still going on," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's military operations spokesman told Reuters.

Al Jazeera