Somalian militants attacked AU base

Somali al-Shabaab militants fought a gunbattle with African Union troops after ramming a car laden with explosives into their base south of the capital Mogadishu early on Friday, military officials and a spokesperson for the group said.
The dawn attack in Leego – along the main road connecting Mogadishu and the city of Baidoa – came as residents gathered for morning prayers.
“A car bomb rammed into the AU base in Leego and this was followed by heavy exchange of gunfire,” Major Nur Olow, a military officer, told Reuters. “First, AU forces opened fire at the speeding car bomb. The car forced its way in.”
Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, a spokesperson for the al-Qaeda-aligned group, said the militants had rammed the car bomb into the base and that “heavy fighting goes on inside the base.”