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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 18 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. |
| Officials say the blast was caused by a suicide bomber, during a graduation ceremony for 43 students from the local Banadir University. | 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. |
| Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali was among those killed | Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali was among those killed |
| 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. | 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. |
| Several dead bodies were later lying out on the ground outside the hotel, says our correspondent. | Several dead bodies were later lying out on the ground outside the hotel, says our correspondent. |
| Five government ministers were reported to have been in the hotel. | 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. | 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. | 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. | '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. |
| 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. |
| Were you at the graduation ceremony? Are you in the area? | Were you at the graduation ceremony? Are you in the area? |
| Send your comments using the post form below. | Send your comments using the post form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |