Al-Shabab militants Ambushed and Killed AU Soldier in Somalia.....

An African Union soldier was killed by al-Shabab militants who ambushed an AMISOM convoy Sunday in southern Somalia.

The governor of Somalia's Lower Shabelle region, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Siidi, told VOA the militants attacked the convoy near the town of Leego.

Another Somali official, who requested not to be named, confirmed a Burundian soldier was killed when the vehicle he was driving was destroyed. Three other AMISOM soldiers were wounded in the attack.

The governor declined to comment on AMISOM casualty figures. He said 11 al-Shabab militants were killed during an exchange of heavy fire during the incident.

An al-Shabab spokesman told Reuters the attack killed five soldiers and destroyed vehicles.

Last week, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the bombing an assault that left 18 people dead and at least 15 others wounded at the Higher Education Ministry in Mogadishu. Somali officials say eight civilians were killed during the incident, along with seven attackers, two Somali security force members and one African Union soldier.

Al-Shabab is attempting to overthrow the Somali government and establish an Islamic state.

Earlier this month, al-Shabab staged an attack on Kenya's Garissa University College, killing 148 people. Al-Shabab said that attack was revenge for Kenyan military action in neighboring Somalia.

Somalia's government has placed bounties on the heads of 11 al-Shabab leaders, including the militant group's top leader and the alleged mastermind of the massacre in Kenya, Mohamed Mohamud, also known as Dulyadin.

Credits to:VOA News