MOGADISHU, March 23 (Reuters) - At least 17 people were killed in Somalia on Saturday after Islamist group al Shabaab attacked a military base.

The Busley base, in the Lower Shabelle region in the country’s southwest, was briefly occupied by the attackers, security officials and the group said.

Armed fighters from al Shabaab battled their way to the facility using suicide car bombs, a Somalia military officer told Reuters. He declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media.