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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, including three government ministers. A blast at a graduation ceremony in the Somali capital Mogadishu has killed at least 18 people, including three government ministers.
Hundreds of people had gathered at the Shamo Hotel to watch 43 students from the local Banadir University receive their graduation diplomas. Officials say the blast was caused by a suicide bomber, during a graduation ceremony for 43 students from the local Banadir University.
Witnesses said the attack appeared to have targeted government officials.Witnesses said the attack appeared to have targeted government officials.
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.
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan, who was at the scene, saw several dead bodies laid out on the ground outside. Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali was among those killed
There was a huge explosion in the hotel's meeting hall, says our correspondent. The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan, who was at the scene, said there was a huge explosion in the hotel's meeting hall where hundreds of people were gathered for the graduation.
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. Several dead bodies were later lying out on the ground outside the hotel, says our correspondent.
Two journalists were also among the dead. The Shamo hotel is often used by the few foreigners - aid workers, journalists and diplomats - who still visit Mogadishu. Five government ministers were reported to have been in the hotel.
Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali, Education Minister Ahmed Abdulahi Waayeel and Higher Education Minister Ibrahim Hassan Addow were all reported to have been killed.
Two journalists were also among the dead.
'Intimidation' The Shamo hotel is often used by the few foreigners - aid workers, journalists and diplomats - who still visit Mogadishu.
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, Amisom, in Somalia.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, Amisom, in Somalia.
Security was light inside the ceremony; the ministers' bodyguards were all waiting outside the meeting hall, our correspondent says.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.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.
The acting head of Amisom, Wafula Wamunyini, condemned the attack, saying it had been "intended to intimidate and blackmail" the UN-backed government.The acting head of Amisom, Wafula Wamunyini, condemned the attack, saying it had been "intended to intimidate and blackmail" the UN-backed government.
"We want to ensure everyone we are going to continue with our mission. We are going to continue providing our services," he told the AFP news agency."We want to ensure everyone we are going to continue with our mission. We are going to continue providing our services," he told the AFP news agency.
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991.Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991.
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