Somalia's al-Shabab kill AU Peacekeepers in Bulo-burde

At least two foreign peacekeepers have been killed in Somalia following an attack on a military base by militant Islamist group al-Shabab.

Gunmen stormed the base in the central town of Bulo-burde, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire, residents said.

The town has been under siege from al-Shabab since peacekeepers took control of it in March.

The African Union (AU) has a 22,000-strong force in Somalia to help the weak government fight al-Shabab.

The al-Qaeda-linked group wants to establish an Islamic state in Somalia. 

Al-Shabab said its fighters had killed six soldiers after raiding the base, which is within a hotel complex in Bulo-burde, some 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Mogadishu.
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However, AU Bulo-burde commander Ibrahim Ali told the BBC Somali Service that the fighting had left five people dead - two soldiers, two militants and a civilian.

The peacekeepers were from Djibouti, he said.

Witnesses in Bulo-burde told the BBC Somali Service the battle lasted for about 30 minutes, before the combined force of the AU and Somali army managed to repel the attack. 

BBC