MOGADISHU, June 11 (Xinhua) -- At least four Somali soldiers were killed in an attack by al-Shabab on a military base in Teed village, about 30 kilometers northwest of Hudur town in Bakol region in southern Somalia, officials said Monday.

Mohamed Moalim Ahmed, Mayor of Hudur town, said that al-Shabab fighters had launched heavy attack on the base but the forces managed to push them back.

"They (al-Shabab) have attacked us, but our forces fought back and repulsed them. We are now in control of the base," Moalim said.

The local official noted that they inflicted casualties on the al-Shabab side, but did not know the number of their losses. Residents in nearby villages told Xinhua that they heard huge exchange of gunfire in the area.

"The two sides have exchanged huge gunfire and engaged a gun battle lasted for hours," Yusuf Eney, a resident told Xinhua.

The militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had seized the village of Teed, a claim which officials have denied.

Independent sources said the militants briefly took control of the military base before they were overpowered by the soldiers.