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Somalia's al-Shabab kill AU soldiers in Bulo-burde | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
At least two soldiers with the African Union force have been killed in Somalia following an attack on a military base by militant Islamist group al-Shabab. | |
Gunmen stormed the base in the central town of Bulo-burde, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire, residents said. | Gunmen stormed the base in the central town of Bulo-burde, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire, residents said. |
The town has been under siege from al-Shabab since peacekeepers took control of it in March. | The town has been under siege from al-Shabab since peacekeepers took control of it in March. |
The African Union (AU) has a 22,000-strong force in Somalia to help the weak government fight al-Shabab. | The African Union (AU) has a 22,000-strong force in Somalia to help the weak government fight al-Shabab. |
The al-Qaeda-linked group wants to establish an Islamic state in Somalia. | The al-Qaeda-linked group wants to establish an Islamic state in Somalia. |
Al-Shabab said its fighters had killed six soldiers after raiding the base, which is within a hotel complex in Bulo-burde, some 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu. | Al-Shabab said its fighters had killed six soldiers after raiding the base, which is within a hotel complex in Bulo-burde, some 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu. |
However, AU Bulo-burde commander Ibrahim Ali told the BBC Somali Service that the fighting had left five people dead - two soldiers, two militants and a civilian. | However, AU Bulo-burde commander Ibrahim Ali told the BBC Somali Service that the fighting had left five people dead - two soldiers, two militants and a civilian. |
The AU soldiers killed were from Djibouti, he said. | |
Witnesses in Bulo-burde told the BBC Somali Service the battle lasted for about 30 minutes, before the combined force of the AU and Somali army managed to repel the attack. | Witnesses in Bulo-burde told the BBC Somali Service the battle lasted for about 30 minutes, before the combined force of the AU and Somali army managed to repel the attack. |
The BBC's Abdullahi Abdi reports from neighbouring Kenya that al-Shabab has blocked off all roads leading to the town since losing control of it in March. | The BBC's Abdullahi Abdi reports from neighbouring Kenya that al-Shabab has blocked off all roads leading to the town since losing control of it in March. |
The AU force can only get its supplies by air and many residents have fled the town and are living on its outskirts, he says. | The AU force can only get its supplies by air and many residents have fled the town and are living on its outskirts, he says. |
Bulo-burde is a strategic town, linking Somalia's Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions, and was an important base for al-Shabab for more than five years. | Bulo-burde is a strategic town, linking Somalia's Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions, and was an important base for al-Shabab for more than five years. |
Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, rival politicians and Islamist militants battle for control since the fall of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991. | Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, rival politicians and Islamist militants battle for control since the fall of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991. |
After a UN-backed government was installed in 2012, a small measure of stability has returned to some areas of the country, but al-Shabab still controls many towns and rural areas of southern Somalia. | After a UN-backed government was installed in 2012, a small measure of stability has returned to some areas of the country, but al-Shabab still controls many towns and rural areas of southern Somalia. |
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