Somali Islamist rebel group, al Shabaab, has claimed responsibility for twin attacks that killed at least 12 people on Monday. <br /><br />The bombs had targeted a convoy of African Union troops and a government convoy of police and national security forces near the capital Mogadishu. Instead they hit civilian vehicles.<br /><br />The attack marks al Shabaab’s first major assault since promising revenge for the death of its leader Ahmed Godan in a US strike last week.<br /><br />The rebels have since pledged allegiance to Al Shabaab’s new head Ahmed Abu Ubaida and reaffirmed its affiliation to al Qaeda.<br /><br />A senior leader with the Islamist militants issued a new set of threats on Monday against the United States as well as Kenya and Uganda who contribute troops to the African Union forces in Somalia. <br /><br />The rebels have carried out attacks since losing control of the Somali capital in 2011.
