A gun battle has begun in the Somali capital Mogadishu between Islamic insurgents and ethiopian forces on Saturday afternoon.

The gun battle started around 5:20 pm in some parts of Hodan district in south Somalia.

The sound of heavy weaponry echoed across Hodan district as both sides exchanged heavy weapons including machine guns, rocket propelled-grenades and other automatic rifles.

The skirmishes broke out after a group of insurgents launched an attack against government police base in Hodan district in Somalia's capital Mogadishu.

"We are hearing the sound of gunfire and loud explosions from where the fighting is taking place; we could not come outside," says a local resident, Mohamed Hassan.

But it has been reported yet any casualties.

According to some residents, there are stray bullets coming from the direction of the fighting.