Militant group al-Shabaab on Thursday said it killed 43 African Union peacekeepers in an attack on their military base in central Somalia. 
The dawn assault on the AU compound in the town of Halgan, which is manned by Ethiopian peacekeepers, began with a suicide car bombing at the entrance to the compound, a Somali army official told the (dpa). 
Dozens of heavily armed militants then fired at the base with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, the official said on condition of anonymity. 
After about an hour, the peacekeepers were able to defeat the insurgents with the help of Somali troops, according to officials. 
More than ten militants were reportedly also killed during the onslaught. 
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility shortly after the attack on pro-insurgent radio station Anadlus, stating its fighters had killed 43 Ethiopian soldiers.

Source ; QNA