Somali al Shabaab militants attacked an African Union peacekeepers' convoy on Sunday in southern Somalia, wounding at least three people and burning two vehicles.

The attack was launched near the town of Leego, in the southern Lower Shabelle region, and that it had destroyed two vehicles and had killed five members of the force.

Dozens of well-armed fighters attacked the AU convoy, prompting an exchange of heavy fire, residents said.

Colonel Aden Mohamed, a senior Somali military officer, told reporters from Leego that he had seen at least three AMISOM soldiers wounded and two burned vehicles. He said the casualty figure could be higher.