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Somali deaths 'will not deter AU' AU urges more weapons for Somalia
(about 4 hours later)
The African Union (AU) has vowed to continue its mission in Somalia, despite the killing of 14 peacekeepers in suicide blasts claimed by Islamists. The African Union has called on the international community to send weapons to the UN-backed Somali government to help it fight Islamist militants.
The dead included the deputy commander of the AU force in Somalia. The AU envoy to Somalia made the plea in the wake of the suicide attacks in Mogadishu in which 17 AU peacekeepers were blown up by the al-Shabab group.
Shelling after the double bombing left at least 13 people dead, mostly civilians, witnesses say. "If we go after Shabab, we'd destroy them in no time," said Nicolas Bwakira.
Spokesman Maj Barigye Ba-hoku said the AU would continue to work with "peace-loving Somalis", however he admitted that the mission was "complicated". He said the attacks should not deter countries from keeping to their promises to bolster the AU force.
The force currently operates with 5,000 soldiers, instead of an intended 8,000. Nigeria and Ghana have promised troops, but so far these pledges remain unfulfilled.
The UN has also said it will take over the mission - at an unspecified date.
Arms embargo
Mr Bwakira told journalists in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, that the deadly attack has not demoralised the force, despite more threats from al-Shabab.
We do not run away when the situation worsen Lt Col Felix Kulayigye Ugandan military spokesman Reporting from inside Somalia
"Peacekeepers do not come to play football or go to the beach - there is a risk to peacekeeping."
But he said the transitional government needed help to fight its "enemies".
"To be fighting with enemies, they need arms - arms which are superior to the capacity of Shabab's."
The BBC's Anne Waithera in Nairobi says there is currently an arms embargo on Somalia, but the United States has been supplying arms to the government after seeking an exemption from the UN.
Our reporter says those injured in Thursday's blasts are still being airlifted to neighbouring Kenya for treatment.
Nine peacekeepers were flown to Nairobi on the day of the attack and an additional 20 arrived on Friday morning.
The deputy commander of the AU force in Somalia died in the attack when two vehicles with UN logos, packed with explosives, were driven into a peacekeeping base by the airport.
Shelling after the double bombing on Thursday left at least 13 people dead, mostly civilians, witnesses say.
"We do not run away when the situation worsens," said Lt Col Felix Kulayigye, a spokesman for the Ugandan military, which contributes about half of the 5,000-strong AU force."We do not run away when the situation worsens," said Lt Col Felix Kulayigye, a spokesman for the Ugandan military, which contributes about half of the 5,000-strong AU force.
We have got our revenge for our brother Nabhan Ali Mohamud Rage Al-Shabab spokesman Burundi, the only other country to have sent peacekeepers to Somalia, has declared five days of national mourning for the 12 of its peacekeepers who died.
"We go there hoping for the best and expecting the worst. If it's good, we'd be glad, but if it's bad, we'd adjust accordingly to deal with it," he said. But a Burundian government spokesman said it would not pull out.
The peacekeepers are helping to protect the weak, UN-backed government in its battle against Islamist insurgents.
Burundi is the only other country to have sent peacekeepers to Somalia. Its senior officer in Somalia, Maj Gen Juvenal Niyonguruza, was among the dead.
Other countries, such as Nigeria, have promised to contribute troops but these have not arrived. The UN has also said it will take over the mission - at an unspecified date.
Two stolen UN vehicles packed with explosives drove into the AU base near the Mogadishu airport before being blown up.
Black smokeBlack smoke
The Islamist al-Shabab group said the attacks were revenge for a US raid on Monday.The Islamist al-Shabab group said the attacks were revenge for a US raid on Monday.
This reportedly killed Kenyan-born al-Qaeda suspect Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, who was wanted by the US for attacks in Kenya.This reportedly killed Kenyan-born al-Qaeda suspect Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, who was wanted by the US for attacks in Kenya.
href="/today/hi/today/newsid_8258000/8258722.stm">Reporting from inside Somalia class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8260309.stm">Somali demands for French hostage Somali demands for French hostage
"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 news agency.
An hour after the blasts, the BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan saw missiles fired from the base near the airport towards Islamist-held parts of Mogadishu.
Witnesses say this left 13 people dead and 30 wounded.
Our reporter says the suicide explosions rocked a large area of the capital. As soon as he heard them, he went to the roof of his house and saw palls of black smoke in the air.
A security official, who wished to remain anonymous, said the soldiers at the gate had assumed the vehicles were on UN business and let them enter the base.
"When the cars entered, one of them sped toward a petrol depot and exploded. The other one exploded in a nearby area," he said.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the blast in the "strongest terms".UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the blast in the "strongest terms".
Some 13 civilians were killed in shelling after the blasts It is believed Nabhan fled to Somalia after the attacks and was working with al-Shabab, which the US sees as al-Qaeda's proxy in Somalia.
US officials say Nabhan was killed on Monday in a US military raid in southern Somalia.
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.
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.