Local Editor

Al-Shabab militants attacked an African Union [AU] base in southern Somalia early Tuesday, the Takfiri group and residents said, with unconfirmed reports that dozens of AU soldiers were killed.

The al-Qaeda-aligned militants said one of their fighters rammed a car bomb into the base and then gunmen poured inside the facility run by the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, AMISOM.

Al-Shabab said 50 African peacekeepers were killed in the attack on Janale base, about 90 km [55 miles] south of the capital, Mogadishu.

In the past, the group had exaggerated the number of AU troops it killed in attacks and officials played down losses.

"Now Janale base of AMISOM is under our control," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabab's military operations spokesman declared.

However, AMISOM and government officials could not be reached for comment but nearby residents confirmed the attack.

"After morning prayers we heard a big explosion followed by heavy gunfire in the AMISOM base. We do not have further details as we are indoors," resident Ahmed Olow said.

The latest assault highlights al-Shabab's ability to launch attacks even though it has lost territory and urban strongholds since a major military offensive against them began last year.

Al-Shabab, which wants to topple a Western-backed government and impose its own extremist interpretation of Islam on Somalia, had also carried out attacks against neighboring countries such as Kenya and Uganda as punishment for sending troops to Somalia as part of the AU peacekeeping force.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team