The African Union (AU) on Friday endorsed a move to boost its Somalia force by 35 percent to step up its fight against Al Qaeda-linked Shebab rebels. The AU mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will be boosted by 6,235 troops, taking the total number to 23,966, the AU\'s Peace and Security Council said in a statement. The request must be approved by the UN Security Council before fresh forces are deployed. The decision comes in the wake of last month\'s deadly attack in a Nairobi shopping centre which was claimed by the Shebab.