African Union: Al-Shabaab claim is a lie

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The Somali militant group al-Shabaab's claim that 70 bodies it put on display were those of African Union soldiers was false, an AU spokesman said.

Al-Shabaab put the bodies on display for journalists Thursday on the outskirts of the capital of Mogadishu.

The AU spokesman said the display was propaganda.

The AU has 9,000 troops in Somalia in support of the country's interim government.

The spokesman said 10 soldiers were killed and two were missing in fighting in Mogadishu.

Sheik Ali Mohamoud Rage, a spokesman for al-Shabaab, said the militants inflicted heavy losses on government and African Union fighters, the Shabelle News Network reported.