Al-Shabab attacks African Union base in Mogadishu

Al-Shabab militants have attacked the headquarters of the African Union force in Somalia’s capital city of Mogadishu.

Somali Colonel Ali Houmed said Thursday fighting is underway between the militants and the AU troops at the base.

Meanwhile, police official Abdi Ahmed said powerful explosions and exchanges of gunfire could be heard at the rear entrance of the headquarters.

Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the Thursday attack. It says the target was a Christmas party at the base.

The group has threatened to increase attacks against security forces in the country.

The Somali government and the African Union forces have stepped up safety measures in an effort to prevent assaults by al-Shabab, which was pushed out of Mogadishu by the African Union troops in 2011.

However, the group still holds several smaller towns and areas in the center and south of the country.

Somalia has been the scene of clashes between government forces and al-Shabab since 1991.

The country did not have an effective central government until September 2012, when lawmakers elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the new president.