Asia-Pacific

3 Somali ministers killed in Mogadishu hotel explosion

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-03 22:36

A wounded man is carried by residents after an explosion at the Hotel Shamo in Mogadishu December 3, 2009. The explosion tore through a graduation ceremony at the hotel on Thursday and killed at least 14 people including three government ministers, witnesses and senior government sources said.[Agencies]

MOGADISHU: At least three Somali government ministers were among dozens killed Thursday in a huge suicide bomb explosion in a hotel in the south of the Somali capital Mogadishu, an official said.

Ministers for Health, Education and Higher Education and Culture were among those that died in the suicide blast in Shamow Hotel in the government controlled south of Mogadishu, an official in the office of the Prime minister, who asked for anonymity, confirmed to Xinhua.

The source said another government minister, for youth and sports, was also "critically" wounded in the blast which has not so far been claimed by any group.

Reports say two local journalists at the scene of the explosion also died while several others were wounded.

A farewell ceremony was being held for Banadir University graduates leaving aboard for higher education scholarship when the suicide bomber, a female, managed to get into the packed hotel and detonated the bomb, killing dozens including students and journalists while scores others were wounded.

Hospital sources say they were overwhelmed by the influx of the wounded who were rushed to a nearby hospital.

Residents say the sound of the explosion was very deafening and could be heard in far corners of the city.

Islamist insurgent groups have been waging deadly attacks against government officials and forces. The groups want to establish an Islamist state in Somalia which has been in chaos for nearly two decades.