MOGADISHU: Car bombs and gunfire struck a government military base in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, international media reports have said.

The al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack near Awdhigle, some 70 km southwest of Mogadishu.

Eye witnesses said they heard two blasts and gunfire near the Somali military base. They said they saw some soldiers running away but said they did not know how many were killed. (Agencies)