Somalia: Al-Shabab launches attack on military base

Somalia's al-Shabab fighters attacked a military base outside the capital Mogadishu with car bombs and gunfire on Friday, killing 17 soldiers and taking control of the outpost and a nearby village, the armed group said.

Residents and an official confirmed the attack but gave no details on the number of casualties.

"After morning prayer today, two mujahideen rammed into Barire military base with suicide car bombs. We killed 17 soldiers and took seven technical vehicles," Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabab's military operations spokesman, told Reuters news agency, referring to pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns.

"The other soldiers ran helter skelter into the woods. We now control the base and the village," said Musab.

Barire is 50km southwest of Mogadishu.

Al-Shabab aims to topple the government in Mogadishu and impose its strict interpretation of Islam in the country.

Somalia has been at war since 1991 when clan-based warlords overthrew dictator Siad Barre and then turned on each other.

The al-Qaeda-linked group was driven out of the capital in 2011, but still carries out frequent attacks on security and government targets, as well as civilians. It also targets African Union peacekeeping troops.

Ali Nur - deputy governor of Lower Shabelle region, where Barire is located - confirmed the fighting but gave no more details on how many soldiers were killed. Residents in Barire also confirmed the attack.

"First we heard two huge blasts at the base and then heavy exchange of gunfire followed. Now it looks like the fighting died down," said Ali Farah from Barire village.

Friday's attack is the latest in violence-plagued Somalia. On Thursday, a car bomb blast near a popular market in Mogadishu killed at least seven people.

No group claimed responsibility but the area has previously suffered attacks by al-Shabab.

Two weeks ago the armed group struck an army base at a border town with Kenya. Three weeks ago al-Shabab hit the southern port city of Kismayu, killing at least 43 people in both incidents.

Source: News agenceis