Al-Shabab Militants Attack Somali Military Base Killing 10
MEP: At least ten soldiers were killed after the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants have attacked an army base southwest of Somali capital, Mogadishu, the group and a military officer told Reuters.
The militants attacked the base at around 1:30 a.m. Monday local time, killing soldiers and seizing weapons and military trucks, Major Ahmed Farah told Reuters from the nearby town of Afgooye.
The attackers rammed a car packed with explosives before storming the base, some 50km outside Mogadishu.
Farah said at least 12 militants were also killed in the clashes.
An al-Shabab spokesman told Reuters at least 30 Somali soldiers had been killed in the raid, but did not mention any al-Shabab casualties.
The official said militants controlled the base until 4:00 a.m. local time when they pulled out and headed towards the town of Awdhegle.
Somalia has been the scene of deadly fighting between government forces and al-Shabab elements since 2006.
