Radical Islamist Shabab rebels launched an attack on Friday against a base of the African Union force in Somalia (Atmis), about 120 kilometres south-west of the capital Mogadishu, Atmis announced, without giving further details of any casualties.

Since 2007, the Shabab rebels, who are linked to al-Qaeda, have been fighting the internationally supported federal government. 

They were driven out of the country’s major cities in 2011-2012 and are now securely established in huge rural areas. 

Suicide attacks are common in this impoverished and fragile Horn of Africa country.