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Al-Shabab seizes African Union base in Somalia | Al-Shabab seizes African Union base in Somalia |
(35 minutes later) | |
Al-Shabab militants have overrun an African Union military base outside the southern Somali town of el-Ade. | Al-Shabab militants have overrun an African Union military base outside the southern Somali town of el-Ade. |
The Islamist group says it has taken "complete control" of the AU camp and killed more than 60 Kenyan soldiers. | The Islamist group says it has taken "complete control" of the AU camp and killed more than 60 Kenyan soldiers. |
Residents told the BBC that al-Shabab had raised its flag at a camp for Kenyan troops and said insurgents had paraded bodies through the town. | Residents told the BBC that al-Shabab had raised its flag at a camp for Kenyan troops and said insurgents had paraded bodies through the town. |
But Kenya's army spokesman said it was a nearby Somali base that was stormed and Kenyan troops counter-attacked. | But Kenya's army spokesman said it was a nearby Somali base that was stormed and Kenyan troops counter-attacked. |
The number of casualties on both sides was not known, Kenyan military spokesman Col David Obonyo said in a statement | The number of casualties on both sides was not known, Kenyan military spokesman Col David Obonyo said in a statement |
Kenya contributes more than 4,000 troops to the 22,000-strong AU force that is in Somalia helping the UN-backed government battle al-Shabab, which is part of al-Qaeda. | Kenya contributes more than 4,000 troops to the 22,000-strong AU force that is in Somalia helping the UN-backed government battle al-Shabab, which is part of al-Qaeda. |
An el-Ade resident told the BBC by phone that he had heard a loud explosion at about 05:30 local time (02:30 GMT), followed by heavy gunfire. | An el-Ade resident told the BBC by phone that he had 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. | "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." | "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." |
An al-Shabab official told the BBC that its fighters had attacked the base after morning prayers, starting with a car bomb before storming the facility. | An al-Shabab official told the BBC that its fighters had attacked the base after morning prayers, starting with a car bomb before storming the facility. |
"We took control of the base after one hour of fierce fighting," he said. | "We took control of the base after one hour of fierce fighting," he said. |
"We counted 63 Kenyan bodies inside the base. The other Kenyan troops have run away into the bush and we are hunting them down." | "We counted 63 Kenyan bodies inside the base. The other Kenyan troops have run away into the bush and we are hunting them down." |
He said the militants were confiscating 28 of 31 military vehicles inside the camp and all arms and ammunition. | He said the militants were confiscating 28 of 31 military vehicles inside the camp and all arms and ammunition. |
The two military bases - one for Somali troops and the other for AU soldiers - neighbour each other on the outskirts of el-Ade, which is in Gedo region, about 380km (240 miles) west of Mogadishu. |