A hotel popular among government officials in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, was attacked by Al-Shabab militants.

Witnesses told the BBC that gunshot could still be heard on Monday morning.

The militants had stormed the Villa Rose Hotel which is very close to the Presidential Palace, with guns and explosives.

Shortly after the attacks began, Environment Minister, Adman Aw Hirsi confirmed that he had survived the attack but the Internal Security Minister was allegedly injured.

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An eyewitness described the attack to have begun with a huge blast flower be a heavy exchange of gunfire.

A police officer, Mohammed Abdi, revealed that some government officials were rescued from the hotel after escaping using the windows.

The Al-Shabab militants aim to topple the Somali government and establish a rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic Law.

The group has orchestrated many other attacks including an attack on another popular hotel in the capital that led to the death of 20 people and a twin car bomb explosion that killed about 100 people.