Death Toll In Mogadishu Bombing Of AMISOM Peacekeeping Base Now At 21

Mogadishu, Somalia (AHN) - 21 people including 17 peacekeepers are now listed as dead in the double suicide bombing on a peacekeeping base in Mogadishu. The blast in Somalia's capital was the flashpoint for even more deadly fighting with mortars raining down on the city.

According to official two white cars with United Nations logos on them gained access to the AU base. Reports say once they were inside the gates and reached their target they detonated.

Reports from the African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) say 17 peacekeepers and four civilians died in the bombing. The deputy force commander, Major General Juvenal Niyonguruza from Burundi, was also listed among the dead.

Claiming responsibility for the attack is the insurgent group al-Shabaab. The group said it was targeting government and AU officials who they believe were planning future assaults against Islamist forces.

On Tuesday the group vowed to retaliate after a U.S. raid on Somali soil killed an al-Qaeda suspect and several al-Shabaab fighters.

Following news of the bombing UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said, "AMISOM is in Mogadishu to help end the conflict that has ravaged the country for the last 20 years, and for a better future in which all Somalis can live in peace and security."

Vowing to not let the unprovoked attack deter the peacekeeping initiative of the mission he went on to say, "We - the United Nations - remain committed to continuing to work with the Transitional Federal Government and the Somali people to facilitate reconciliation and the political process, build Somali security and rule of law institutions and provide humanitarian assistance. The United Nations stands by the African Union and AMISOM and will continue to support AMISOM's deployment and operations. U.N. resources from neighboring peace operations are on standby to assist the African Union to respond to the incident today as required."

He continued, "I condemn in strongest possible terms this entirely unacceptable attack on those who are there to help foster peace and I call upon all Somalis to renounce violence and to work with the Transitional Federal Government towards national reconciliation."

Following Thursday's blast insurgents and government forces engaged in heavy fighting with local media reporting at least a dozen people killed.

AMISOM is a 5,000-strong peacekeeping force made up of troops from Burundi and Uganda.

AMISOM has been aiding the government of Somalia maintain order. The country has been the site of chaos and disarray since the ousting of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Following a fighting flare up in May more than 250,000 people have fled the nation's capital adding to the 1.5 million displaced within the country.

With the current drought and national turmoil some estimates place over half of the Somali population dependent on food aid.