Somali forces are battling to regain control of a hotel seized by militants in the centre of the capital, Mogadishu, on Sunday evening.
At least four people have been killed and dozens more injured in the siege which has lasted more than 12 hours.
Witnesses have told the BBC of hearing multiple explosions and heavy gunfire coming from the popular Villa Rose hotel near the presidential palace.
The al-Qaeda affiliated group al-Shabab has said it carried out the attack.
The Villa Rose Guest hotel is popular with government officials and several ministers have confirmed being rescued.
At least one minister, Mohamed Ahmed, is reported to have been injured while another, Environment Minister Adam Aw Hirsi, told reporters he had survived the attack.
Al-Shabab has continued to carry out attacks in central and southern Somalia despite recent government troops backed by African Union forces and local militias retaking areas previously captured by the group.
An unknown number of assailants, armed with explosives and guns, were involved, police officers told Reuters news agency.
One eyewitness described hearing a "huge blast, followed by a heavy exchange of gunfire".
"We were shaken," Ahmed Abdullahi, who lives close to the scene, told the news agency. "We are just indoors, listening to gunfire."
Some government officials were rescued from Villa Rose after using windows to escape, said police officer Mohammed Abdi.
In August, three months after taking office, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged "total war" against the Islamist militants following an attack on another popular Mogadishu hotel. More than 20 people died.
Two months later, twin car bomb explosions near a busy junction in Mogadishu killed at least 100 people. Al-Shabab also said it was behind that attack.
President Mohamud subsequently mobilised the Somali army and government-backed clan militias in a bid to take villages and towns from al-Shabab, which controls large swathes of the country.
BBC Africa correspondent Andrew Harding recently spent time with the so-called "lightning" brigade, which is funded by the US and plays a central role in the uprising against al-Shabab.
Al-Shabab has a long history of targeting hotelsknown to be frequented by government officials and foreigners.
The militant group's central aim is to topple Somalia's government and establish its own rule based on a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Latest Stories
-
Residents of Anloga, Keta express frustration over ECG billing
5 mins -
I don’t believe in praying in tongues – Strongman
7 mins -
‘After The floods’: VRA and GMet clash over cause of Akosombo Dam spillage disaster
20 mins -
‘After The Floods’: Victims suffer harsh conditions 6 months after Akosombo dam disaster
36 mins -
Akufo-Addo to unveil Otumfuo commemorative stamp
1 hour -
EduSpots distributes over 100 tablets and laptops to 30 community-led education spaces
1 hour -
Taxation is driving away investors – FABAG General Secretary
2 hours -
Effutu MP commissions office for Hepatitis B; absorbs cost of testing, vaccination and management
2 hours -
Bawumia pushes for land digitisation to tackle land guard menace
2 hours -
Faith-based institutions are instrumental in national development – Bawumia
2 hours -
Upholding the Integrity of Presidential Promises: A call to Ghanaian leaders
2 hours -
I don’t start ‘beefs’; I only reply – Strongman refutes claims
2 hours -
Vice President Bawumia promises reforms to turn Ghana’s fortunes around
2 hours -
REGSEC warns encroachers along Tema-Sakumono Ramsar site as it races to prevent flooding
3 hours -
Kumasi International Airport to be commissioned ahead of time – Transport Ministry
3 hours