Al Shabaab militants attack AU base in Somalia, kill dozens

Al Shabaab militants on Friday launched an attack on the El-Adde base of the African Union peacekeepers in Gedo region in southern Somalia, killing dozens of soldiers, said officials and residents.
Gedo Region’s military commander, Abdirazak Hussein, said there were many casualties between the two parties.
Hussein said: “They first rammed a suicide car bomb into the gate of the Kenyan forces base in El-Adde, about 93 kilometers from the Kenyan border.
“After that, they exchanged heavy gunfire with the forces inside the base.
“There were many casualties between the two parties.”
Witnesses reported blasts and heavy gunfire.
El-Adde resident, Ahmed Naaleeye, said: “There was a heavy blast before the direct attack.
“The warring sides used heavy machine guns.
“We still could hear the sound of the shooting.”
Naaleeye said the fighting had been ongoing.
Al Shabaab had claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had taken over the base and killed more than 63 Kenya Defence Forces soldiers.
Xinhua/NAN.