Suicide attacks hit Somali capital

African Union bases have been hit by five simultaneous suicide attacks in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, officials have said.

A diplomat based in Nairobi, Kenya, said only some of today's attacks had been stopped in time. No casualty figures were immediately available.

Al-Qa'ida-linked Islamic fundamentalists are battling the weak UN-backed government for control of the capital.

Around 9,000 AU troops are stationed in the city to prevent the government from being overrun by militants.

The insurgency has frequently launched suicide attacks against both government and AU soldiers. A suicide attack in 2009 on the main AU base in Mogadishu killed 21 people.