Witnesses in Somalia say that gunmen stormed the capital's main court complex, firing guns and detonating two blasts.

Yusuf Abdi, who was near the court when the attack happened Sunday morning, said that armed men forced their way inside and immediately set off an explosion.

A government spokesman, Mohamed Yusuf, confirmed the attack and said security forces had responded and were battling the militants.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene reported hearing a second explosion and said gunmen were on top of a court building, firing their weapons.

No casualty toll was immediately available because the fighting was ongoing.

Most militant attacks in Mogadishu are blamed on fighters for al-Shabab, the al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremist rebel group in Somalia.