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-33282778
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Somalia attack: Al-Shabab 'kills 30' at AU military base | Somalia attack: Al-Shabab 'kills 30' at AU military base |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 30 people have been killed after gunmen attacked an African Union military base in southern Somalia, witnesses say. | At least 30 people have been killed after gunmen attacked an African Union military base in southern Somalia, witnesses say. |
| A suicide car bomber drove into the main gates of the base in Leego, along the main road connecting the capital, Mogadishu and the city of Baidoa. | A suicide car bomber drove into the main gates of the base in Leego, along the main road connecting the capital, Mogadishu and the city of Baidoa. |
| The militant Islamist group al-Shabab says its fighters have taken control of the base but this is not confirmed. | The militant Islamist group al-Shabab says its fighters have taken control of the base but this is not confirmed. |
| Al-Shabab is battling Somalia's government for control of the country. | Al-Shabab is battling Somalia's government for control of the country. |
| The base is manned by Burundian soldiers from the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), which has more than 20,000 troops in the country. | |
| Amisom confirmed on its Twitter account that an attack was ongoing, but has not given any details on casualties. | |
| Leego residents have seen militants burning vehicles, carrying off weapons and removing the bodies of their fighters killed in the attack, reports the BBC's Mohamed Moalimu from Mogadishu. | |
| Who are Somalia's al-Shabab? | |
| Africa Live: Latest updates | |
| The governor of Lower Shabelle province told the BBC that militants had conducted at least three separate attacks in his region but that most had been repelled. | |
| Al-Shabab has vowed to intensify attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. | |
| On Wednesday, the first day of Ramadan, the United Arab Emirates ambassador survived a suicide attack on his convoy in Mogadishu. |