Twelve Soldiers Killed in Al-Shabab Attack in Somalia

al-Shabab have attacked an army base camp in Somalia after a suicide bomber attacked the gate.

A file photo of al Shabab militants. (Photo: AP)

Al-Shabaab and government forces battled for control of a remote army base in Somalia on Friday, after fighters from the Islamist militant group said they attacked the compound, killing dozens of soldiers.

<p>Our fighters went in and after heavy exchange of gunfire we took over the base. </p>

<b>Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabaab’s military operations spokesman</b>

The group, which is aligned with al-Qaeda, said it took over the base, about 550 km (340 miles) west of Mogadishu after a suicide bomber from the group rammed its gates. It said it was also in control of the small town of Ceel Cado nearby.

<p>(Kenyan) troops under (African Union auspices) counter-attacked ... The fighting is still going on ...and the number of casualties on both sides is unknown. </p>

<b>Col. David Obonyo, Kenya Defence Force (KDF) spokesman</b>

Col. Obonyo said that al-Shabaab fighters overran a Somalia National Army camp situated close to a second camp run by KDF.

Al-Shabaab said it was in control of Ceel Cado and had captured nearly 30 lorries, tanks and armoured vehicles.

A file photo of Kenyan military men. (Photo: AP)

<p>We have now counted and gathered in the base 61 dead bodies of (Kenyan) soldiers. The entire town and the base are in our hands.</p>

<b>Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabaab’s military operations spokesman</b>

Al-Shabaab has in the past year staged multiple attacks against African Union bases in Somalia, part of a guerrilla warfare strategy to drive out foreign troops and impose its harsh version of Islamic law across the Horn of Africa nation.