Nairobi, Feb 19 (IANS) Suspected al-Shabab militants on Wednesday ambushed a commuter bus in northeast Kenya with casualties being feared.

The police and witnesses said the Nairobi-bound bus named Moyale Raha was attacked in the Fino area by the militants, Xinhua news agency reported.

"It's true the bus was attacked by suspected al-Shabab militants. We have not gotten the number of casualties," said a police officer who declined to be named.

He said reinforcements have been sent to the scene to pursue the attackers.

Fino is about six kilometres away from the main Kenya-Somalia border. The area has been facing a number of attacks from the militants who target communication masts and destroy them.

--IANS sdr/bg