Somalia: Al-Shabab fighters attack military bases

Al-Shabab has attacked two Somali military bases using an explosive-laden vehicle driven by a suicide bomber along with dozens of heavily-armed fighters.

At least 12 Somali soldiers were killed in the attack on Wednesday, and the attackers briefly captured a base southwest of the capital, officials said, underscoring the group’s ability to launch attacks despite a government offensive.

African Union troops stepped in to help repel the second, larger attack after a bomber drove a vehicle onto a bridge leading to the Qoryooley army base, 95 kilometres (59 miles) west of the capital Mogadishu and detonated it.