(SomaliNet) Heavy explosions at the presidential palace in the Somalia capital Mogadishu where President Abdulahi Yusuf Ahmed resides could be heard tonight. The explosion and ensuing gunfire, which lasted several minutes could be heard in parts of the capital. Reports say that aout 15 unknown gunmen have attacked the interim government forces guarding Villa Somalia. “I woke up with the sound of horrible explosions and gunfire that rocked the area around 9:15 pm local time. It was another nightmare in the capital,” Siad Mohamed Roble, a local journalist living near Villa Somalia who spoke with Somalinet. The assailants were reported to have hit the heavily guarded compound by Ethiopian and Somali forces with mortar shells. After the shootout, local residents said they could see two mini-buses full of militiamen, allegedly the attackers who seemed to be escaping. It is not yet clear the casualty of the latest attack. The attack came as the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi restated that his forces will withdraw from Somalia in the next few days before the AU peace keeping troops arrive.