Somalia's al Shabaab Islamist Group Claims To Have Captured Scores Of Kenyan Soldiers In Last Weeks Attack On A Major AU Base

Reuters: Somali Islamist rebels say they have captured Kenyan troops

Somalia's al Shabaab Islamist group said on Sunday it had captured some Kenyan soldiers during an attack last week on military bases in western Somalia near the Kenyan border.

The group, which did not say how many soldiers were held after Friday's assault in Ceel Cadde, also said in a statement that more than 100 Kenyan soldiers were killed, revising up the number from the more than the 63 dead it had previously claimed.

Kenya has not given casualty figures beyond saying both sides sustained casualties. But a top Kenyan commander said on Sunday the army was conducting "search and rescue" operations without specifically saying if those it was looking for were captured.

Update #1: Somali Extremists Say They Captured Some Kenyan Soldiers -- AP
Update #2: Kenya In 'Search And Rescue' As Shebab Claims 100 Killed -- NDTV/AFP

WNU Editor: This was a major defeat for the African Union in Somalia, and a shock to Kenya whose soldiers were massacred in this attack. This also tells everyone in the region that al-Shabaab is far from defeated.