Al-Qaeda accused of publicity stunt in Somalia

The African Union said yesterday that al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia had dressed up dozens of their own casualties in stolen AU uniforms as a propaganda stunt. The group claimed it had killed 70 peacekeepers, but the AU said only ten deaths had been confirmed.

The dispute came as al-Shabaab militants came under growing pressure, with Kenyan forces battling the insurgency in southern Somalia.