Mogadishu, Oct. 6 -- Somali security forces have thwarted an al-Shabab attack on the country's main detention facility in the capital, Mogadishu, killing seven militants, the Somali government said on Sunday.

Security forces ended a several-hour siege on Saturday night at the Godka Jilicow facility, one of the main detention centers operated by the National Intelligence and Security Agency, the Ministry of Internal Security said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

"The cowardly attack by al-Shabab terrorists was swiftly foiled, and all seven militants were killed within a short time. The attackers used a pickup truck painted in the colors and insignia of security vehicles and wore military-style uniforms to disguise themselves," said the ...