Somali president's convoy ambushed by militants

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The spokesman for the African Union force in Somalia says that militants ambushed a convoy of vehicles carrying Somalia's president but that the attack was repelled.

Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda said Tuesday's attack against the president's convoy happened as the president was traveling from the newly liberated town of Afgoye back to Mogadishu.

African Union and Somali troops took control of Afgoye — 30 kilometers (20 miles) outside of Mogadishu — over the weekend.

Ankunda said that African Union forces repelled the attack by al-Shabab and that the president returned safely to Mogadishu.