Mogadishu , Somalia ( CNN ) -- At least 10 heavily armed militants forced their way into a court building Sunday in Mogadishu , Somalia , and launched a deadly attack , according to a local journalist who witnessed the aftermath . Some of the assailants detonated explosives before others exchanged fire with government security , witnesses said . Diplomatic sources told CNN that 29 people were killed in the courthouse attack . At least nine members of the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab were also killed , the sources said . That group claimed responsibility for the attack . Nearly 60 people were wounded in the skirmish , the officials said . `` Above all , today 's operations ought to drive this unambiguous message home : there is no safe haven for apostates in Mogadishu ! '' the group said on Twitter , according to a CNN translation . Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said called the strike `` nothing but a sign of desperation by the terrorists , '' saying the militants `` are in complete decline . '' The president said the court complex was one of several sites hit . `` We are moving forward , but the enemy of Somalia , the enemy of all mankind , will attempt to set us back and try to prevent us from prospering . I want the terrorist to know that our country , Somalia , is moving and will keep moving forward and will not be prevented to achieve the ultimate noble goal , a peaceful and stable Somalia , by a few desperate terrorists , '' he said . The regional court was in session at the time of the attack , witnesses said . The building also houses the nation 's Supreme Court . Radio Mogadishu , a state radio service , reported that at least 100 people who were in the building had come out safely . Somali security officials said two Turkish nationals from a passing aid convoy and two Somali civilians were killed in a car bombing attack near the Mogadishu airport . Witnesses told CNN there also were fatal bombings at a military intelligence building and a clinic . Somalia 's shaky transitional government , backed by African Union peacekeepers , has been battling Islamist guerrillas for years . The country has lacked an effective central government since 1991 , with portions of the Horn of Africa nation left lawless . Somali rappers defy bullets , death threats for Mogadishu . CNN 's Nima Elbagir in Nairobi , Kenya and Amir Ahmed in Atlanta contributed to this story .
Diplomatic officials say 29 people were killed at courthouse , nearly 60 wounded . The sources also said nine Al-Shabaab militants died . President says terrorists showing signs of desperation . Several attacks occurred across Mogadishu .