Somali insurgents detonated two suicide car bombs at an African Union (AU) peacekeeping base in Mogadishu on Thursday in what the rebels called revenge for this week's U.S. killing of a top al Qaeda suspect.

A Reuters reporter saw six wounded soldiers being carried away from the site of the explosions, some bleeding heavily, while thick smoke poured into the sky over Somalia's capital.
Witnesses said AU troops had died, along with some Somalis who had been waiting for medical treatment at the AU base, but the number of casualties was not immediately clear.

Worst attack
It looked to be the worst attack on the peacekeepers since 11 Burundians were killed and 28 wounded in February by two suicide bombers - one in a car, one with a suicide vest - who infiltrated their base. It also followed one of the most violent months the city has seen in 20 years.

Western security agencies say lawless Somalia has become a safe haven for militants, including foreign jihadists, who are using it to plot attacks across the region and beyond.

“Revenge”
Al Shabaab's spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, said Thursday's attacks were to avenge the death of Kenyan-born Salah Ali Saleh Nabhan, who was killed in southern Somalia on Monday during a raid by U.S. special forces.

"We have got our revenge for our brother Nabhan. Two suicide car bombs targeting the AU base, praise Allah," he told Reuters.

"It took place at noon on the 27th of Ramadan, the best blessing. We knew the infidel government and AU troops planned to attack us after the holy month. This is a message to them."

Nabhan, 28, had been allied with al Shabaab, which Washington accuses of being al Qaeda's proxy in Somalia.

Thursday's attack is likely to deter African nations including Nigeria and Djibouti that have agreed to send soldiers to reinforce the AU mission - but have yet to do so.

Source: Reuters