AU's Peacekeeping Force in Somalia Investigating Civilian Deaths 

MOGADISHU - The African Union's peacekeeping mission in Somalia said it had started investigating reports that civilians were killed during a gunfight between its troops and al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab fighters.   

The force, known as the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), said the incident occurred on Tuesday following an ambush, while its soldiers were on patrol along the Beldamin-Golweyn Forward Operating Base in the Lower Shabelle region.    There was a heavy exchange of gunfire between AMISOM forces and al-Shabab militants before the patrol team seized firearms, rounds of ammunition and mobile phones, it said in a statement late on Wednesday.