This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35321522

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Al-Shabab attacks African Union base in Somalia Al-Shabab attacks African Union base in Somalia
(35 minutes later)
Al-Shabab militants have overrun an African Union military base in Somalia.Al-Shabab militants have overrun an African Union military base in Somalia.
The group claims to have taken "complete control" of the camp and killed more than 60 Kenyan soldiers. The Islamist group says it has taken "complete control" of the camp and killed more than 60 Kenyan soldiers.
Militants attacked the base in el Ade, southern Somalia, early on Friday and fighting continued for several hours, a Kenyan military spokesman said. Militants attacked the southern el-Ade base for Somali soldiers before dawn and fighting continued for several hours, Kenya's military spokesman said.
He says it was a Somali army camp that was overrun, and that Kenyans fought militants from their base nearby. He could not confirm any casualties. He says Kenyan troops based nearby counter-attacked and fought the insurgents. The number of casualties was not known, he said.
A resident nearby told the BBC by phone that he heard a loud explosion at about 05:30 local time (02:30 GMT), followed by heavy gunfire.
"We then saw an al-Shabab fighter in the town. We also saw Kenyan soldiers who were fleeing from the camp.
"At the moment the camp is in the hands of al-Shabab. We can see military cars burning and dead soldiers all over the place. There are no civilian casualties but most people have fled the town."
African Union troops in Somalia are helping the UN-backed government battle al-Shabab, which is part of al-Qaeda.