Mogadishu, Feb 21 (IANS): Two officials, including the prime minister's secretary, were killed Friday in an attack on the presidential palace here, a minister said. The Al-Shabaab Islamist group claimed responsibility for the attack.

National Security Minister Abdelhakim Guled said government forces thwarted the attack, which killed Mohamud Hersi Abdulle, the secretary of the Somali prime minister, and Nur Shirbo, a former senior intelligence commander, reported Xinhua.

A car bomb explosion at one of the gates of the presidential palace was followed by heavy gunfire.

Guled said that government forces, backed by African Union peacekeepers, captured several Al-Shabaab fighters, who attacked the presidency while others were killed.

"Firefight broke out between the guards and the gunmen who were quickly neutralised by our forces," said Mohamoud Yonis, a police officer.

UN Somalia envoy Nicolas Kay said in a twitter post that Somali president was unharmed and condemned the attack on the palace.

Al-Shabaab is fighting Somali government and African Union peacekeeping troops.