Al-Shabab fighters temporarily overran a Somali government military base in Laanta Buur, a former prison about 40 kilometers west of Mogadishu, officials said.

The militants attacked the base at around 1:30 a.m. Monday local time, killing soldiers and seizing weapons and military trucks, security officials said.

The attack began with a suicide car bomb at the main entrance of the base, followed by massive attack by hundreds of heavily armed militants.

Some soldiers at the base reportedly attempted to defend themselves but were overpowered.

A security official says at least three soldiers were killed but other officials say they fear a heavier loss of life.

An official who was briefed on the attack said a military command control center for three regions, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle and Benadir, was recently set up in the base. It's unclear if any high ranking military officers were killed or wounded in the attack.

The official said militants controlled the base until 4:00 a.m. local time when they pulled out and headed towards the town of Awdhegle.

The Al-Shabab militants claimed to have killed more than 30 government soldiers in the attack and seized seven vehicles. Their claim cannot be independently verified.

Al-Shabab attacked the same base in March this year seizing military trucks and rocket propelled grenades.

Six soldiers were killed in the March attack. Senior government officials at the time suggested that "rogue officers" may have collaborated with the militants.

(Voice of America)