Somali woman was abducted drugged and repeatedly raped

The African Union force in Somalia has said it is investigating an alleged gang rape involving its troops in the capital, Mogadishu, the BBC says.

A Somali woman has alleged she was abducted, drugged and repeatedly raped earlier this month by officers from the national army and the AU force.

The allegation has caused outrage in Mogadishu, and there have been protests by women activists.

Rights groups says rape and sexual abuse is a growing problem in Somalia.

Those living in camps for people displaced by conflict and the 2011 famine are most vulnerable, with many cases of rape going unreported because women fear stigma and reprisal.

In March, US-based Human Rights Watch said the abuse often takes place at the hands of armed groups, including government forces, and said the government should do more to tackle the issue.