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Blasts hit Somalia peacekeepers Suicide blasts hit Somalia base
(about 2 hours later)
Two huge explosions have gone off at an African Union peacekeepers' base in the Somali capital, witnesses say. Two suicide bombers have struck at an African Union peacekeepers' base in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The Islamist al-Shabab group has said it carried out a double suicide attack, reports the AFP news agency. One witness said he had seen two bodies. A security official told the BBC two white vehicles with UN logos, but packed with explosives, drove in. There are several casualties, witnesses say.
A security official told the BBC that two white vehicles bearing UN logos exploded after being let into the base. An Islamist al-Shabab spokesman told Reuters news agency the attacks were in revenge for a US raid which reportedly killed an al-Qaeda suspect this week.
Al-Shabab on Tuesday vowed to avenge a US raid in southern Somalia, which reportedly killed an al-Qaeda suspect. Kenyan-born Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan was wanted by the US for attacks in Kenya.
Six injured peacekeepers were seen being carried away from the base near the Mogadishu airport, says Reuters news agency. "We have got our revenge for our brother Nabhan. Two suicide car bombs targeting the AU base, praise Allah," al-Shabab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage told Reuters.
The soldiers at the gate assumed they were UN cars and opened the gate for them Security official
Six injured peacekeepers, some bleeding heavily, were seen being carried away from the base near the Mogadishu airport, the agency says.
"I have seen the bodies of two people who were brought from the area," said a witness, Ali Mohamed, adding that they looked like Somalis, AFP reports."I have seen the bodies of two people who were brought from the area," said a witness, Ali Mohamed, adding that they looked like Somalis, AFP reports.
"The soldiers at the gate assumed they were UN cars and opened the gate for them," the security official told the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu."The soldiers at the gate assumed they were UN cars and opened the gate for them," the security official told the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu.
"When the cars entered, one of them sped toward a petrol depot and exploded. The other one exploded in a nearby area.""When the cars entered, one of them sped toward a petrol depot and exploded. The other one exploded in a nearby area."
There are some 5,000 AU troops, mostly from Uganda and Burundi, in Mogadishu, protecting the weak, UN-backed government.There are some 5,000 AU troops, mostly from Uganda and Burundi, in Mogadishu, protecting the weak, UN-backed government.
Earlier, al-Shabab demanded that France ensure that AU forces are pulled out of Somalia. Demands
US officials say Nabhan was killed on Monday in a US military raid in southern Somalia.
Reporting from inside Somalia Somali demands for French hostageReporting from inside Somalia Somali demands for French hostage
This was one of several demands issued by al-Shabab for the release of a French security adviser captured in July. He was wanted in connection with the 2002 attacks on a hotel and an Israeli airliner in his home city of Mombasa.
It is believed he fled to Somalia after the attacks and was working with al-Shabab, which the US sees as al-Qaeda's proxy in Somalia.
Earlier on Thursday, al-Shabab demanded that France ensure that AU forces are pulled out of Somalia.
This was one of several demands issued by the group for the release of a French security adviser captured in July.
Al-Shabab and its allies control most of southern and central Somalia, while the government, helped by the AU force, just runs parts of Mogadishu.Al-Shabab and its allies control most of southern and central Somalia, while the government, helped by the AU force, just runs parts of Mogadishu.
The country has not had a functioning central government since 1991, leading to a complete breakdown of law and order both on land and in recent years in Somali waters.The country has not had a functioning central government since 1991, leading to a complete breakdown of law and order both on land and in recent years in Somali waters.
President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamist and former insurgent, was chosen in January after UN-brokered peace talks.President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, a moderate Islamist and former insurgent, was chosen in January after UN-brokered peace talks.
He has vowed to implement Sharia but al-Shabab accuses him of being a Western puppet.He has vowed to implement Sharia but al-Shabab accuses him of being a Western puppet.
Years of fighting and anarchy have left some three million people - half the population - needing food aid.Years of fighting and anarchy have left some three million people - half the population - needing food aid.