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Al-Shabaab militants attack African Union base near Mogadishu Airport in Somalia Al-Shabaab militants 'kill 14' in attack African Union base near Mogadishu Airport in Somalia
(about 2 hours later)
Gunmen have attacked the African Union base in Mogadishu, according to a Somali official. Somali Islamist militants alShabaab have attacked the main African Union peacekeeping base in the capital Mogadishu, killing 14 people, a spokesman for the group said.
Mohamed Abdi, a policeman at the capital's airport, which shares a fence with the AU base, said there was an exchange of fire between the gunmen and troops. There were conflicting reports about how many have died in the attack which has now lasted for several hours.
Somali terror group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack saying they were targeting a Christmas party at the base which houses UN offices, among others. In the past, al-Shabaab has exaggerated numbers while officials have played down losses.
AU troops are bolstering Somalia's weak government against an insurgency from the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab. “Our fighters have entered AU's Halane base by force through the gate and now fighting is going on inside the base,” the spokesman said, adding 14 of the AU contingent had been killed.
Troops have managed to push the militants from their major strongholds, including Mogadishu in 2011, but the extremist group still carries out frequent attacks. AU spokesman Colonel Ali Houmed said it would provide an update later in the day on possible casualties and fatalities among AU troops but added that three al-Shabaab gunmen have been killed and AU troops were seeking to overpower another three.
The United Nations representative to Somalia, Nicholas Kay, condemned the attack on Twitter, saying it took place at the Mogadishu airport. “They are hiding and we know where they are. We are surrounding them,” said Houmed, who said the attack is expected to end swiftly.
AP The AU base is on the edge of the Mogadishu international airport compound, which has a tight security cordon and blast walls. It is also used as a base for UN operations in Somalia. The airport area also houses the British and Italian embassies.
Aleem Siddique, spokesman for the United Nations in Somalia, said all UN staff were safe and accounted for.
Reuters