This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/8392468.stm

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Explosion kills Somali ministers Explosion kills Somali ministers
(20 minutes later)
A blast at a graduation ceremony in the Somali capital Mogadishu has killed at least seven people, with government ministers among the dead. A blast at a graduation ceremony in the Somali capital Mogadishu has killed at least seven people, including three government ministers.
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan, who was at the scene, saw several dead bodies laid out on the ground outside.The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan, who was at the scene, saw several dead bodies laid out on the ground outside.
The ceremony was being held at a local hotel for the graduation of 43 students from the Banadir University. The ceremony was being held at a local hotel for the graduation of 43 students from the local Banadir University.
Islamists are fighting the UN-backed government, which controls small pockets of territory in the country.Islamists are fighting the UN-backed government, which controls small pockets of territory in the country.
Details of the explosion at the Shamo Hotel are still emerging, but witnesses told Reuters news agency it appeared to be an attack targeting government officials.Details of the explosion at the Shamo Hotel are still emerging, but witnesses told Reuters news agency it appeared to be an attack targeting government officials.
Our correspondent says there was a huge explosion in the hotel's meeting hall - where hundreds of people were attending a graduation ceremony.Our correspondent says there was a huge explosion in the hotel's meeting hall - where hundreds of people were attending a graduation ceremony.
He said five government ministers were in the hotel and confirmed that two of them had been killed, including Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali, while the others were seriously injured. He said five government ministers were in the hotel and confirmed that three of them had been killed, including Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali, Education Minister Ahmed Abdulahi Waayeel and Higher Education Minister Ibrahim Hassan Addow.
Government and police officials told reporters after the explosion that as many as three ministers had been killed. Two journalists were also among the dead.
Two journalists are also reported to be among the dead.
The Shamo hotel is often used by the few foreigners - aid workers, journalists and diplomats - who still visit Mogadishu.The Shamo hotel is often used by the few foreigners - aid workers, journalists and diplomats - who still visit Mogadishu.
It is close to the city centre and the K4 junction, often the scene of clashes between government troops and African Union peacekeepers and Islamists fighters. It is in one of the small parts of the city controlled by the government, just 1km from a base of the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.
Security was light inside the ceremony; the ministers' bodyguards were all waiting outside the meeting hall, our correspondent says.
No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Our reporter says the blast came from within the hall but it is not clear if it was a suicide attack or if the bomb had been hidden inside the building.
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991.Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991.