Fighters from the al-Shabab militant Islamist group have overrun an African Union military base in southern Somalia

Fighters from the al-Shabab militant
Islamist group have overrun an
African Union military base in
southern Somalia, inflicting heavy
casualties, witnesses have told the
BBC.
The militants said they have killed 70
AU soldiers at the Janale base, 90km
(55 miles) south-west of the capital.
AU forces say they are back in control
after taking a "tactical withdrawal".
Al-Shabab, part of al-Qaeda, is
battling the AU-backed government for
control of Somalia.

Residents said the attack started with
a suicide car bombing at the base's
gate, followed by sustained gunfire
which lasted more than an hour.
They told the BBC Somali service that
AU forces were seen leaving the base,
which is run by the Ugandan troops.
They said they counted the bodies of
20 AU soldiers and later they saw
more troops arriving at the base after
the militants had left with weapons.
The AU mission in Somalia (Amisom)
says the situation is complex and it
does not yet have casualty figures.
The BBC's Mohamed Mualimu in the
capital, Mogadishu, says the situation
in the area is very tense and few
residents remain there.
The militants had earlier damaged a
nearby bridge with a massive bomb to
prevent troops from escaping, Col
Ahmed Hassan from the Somali army
told the Associated Press.
This is being seen as an attempt by
the militants to isolate AU bases in the
area, our reporter says.
In June, the group overran another
African Union base in Lego, a small
town in the Lower Shabelle region in
southern Somalia, killing dozens of
soldiers and seizing military
equipments.
Despite losing most of its key
strongholds in south and central
Somalia, al-Shabab continues to carry
out attacks on the government and
African Union troops across the
country.
The militants also stage frequent
suicide attacks inside the capital,
Mogadishu.