Somalia: Three dead as al-Shabab attacks AU peacekeepers camp

The armed group al-Shabab has attacked an African Union mission troop camp in the Shabelle region in central Somalia, a local elder and the group have said.

“We were awoken by huge blasts early in the morning. The blasts were at the African Union mission base. Heavy exchange of gunfire followed,” local elder Mohamed Nur told reporters on Tuesday by phone from El Baraf, about 130km (80 miles) to the north of the capital, Mogadishu.

Another resident, who lives in a village near the scene, said three civilians had died in the crossfire. He also said he saw two helicopters flying by and gunfire coming from them.