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Somali ministers killed by bomb | Somali ministers killed by bomb |
(19 minutes later) | |
A suicide bomber disguised as a woman has killed at least 19 people including three government ministers in the Somali capital Mogadishu. | A suicide bomber disguised as a woman has killed at least 19 people including three government ministers in the Somali capital Mogadishu. |
Officials say the attack hit a hotel in the city during a crowded graduation ceremony for medical students from a local university. | Officials say the attack hit a hotel in the city during a crowded graduation ceremony for medical students from a local 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. |
Somali Information Minister Dahir Mohamud Gelle said the bomber had been dressed in women's clothing, "complete with a veil and a female's shoes". | Somali Information Minister Dahir Mohamud Gelle said the bomber had been dressed in women's clothing, "complete with a veil and a female's shoes". |
Mr Gelle told the Associated Press news agency that officials had a photograph of the man. | Mr Gelle told the Associated Press news agency that officials had a photograph of the man. |
"What happened today is a national disaster," said Mr Gelle. | "What happened today is a national disaster," said Mr Gelle. |
Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali was reportedly killed | Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali was reportedly 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. |
Five government ministers were reported to have been in the hotel at the time. | Five government ministers were reported to have been in the hotel at the time. |
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. |
A security official told the AFP news agency most of the dead were believed to be students. Two journalists were also among the dead. | A security official told the AFP news agency most of the dead were believed to be students. Two journalists were also among the dead. |
A photographer for the agency described hearing a huge explosion and the room filling with smoke. | A photographer for the agency described hearing a huge explosion and the room filling with smoke. |
"I went to get my camera, and that's when I saw the bodies of the three ministers," said Mohamed Dahir. | "I went to get my camera, and that's when I saw the bodies of the three ministers," said Mohamed Dahir. |
The students were graduating from Benadir University, which was set up in 2002 to train doctors to replace those who had fled overseas or been killed in the civil war. | The students were graduating from Benadir University, which was set up in 2002 to train doctors to replace those who had fled overseas or been killed in the civil war. |
'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 the K4 junction, where the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, Amisom, has a base. | |
The BBC's East Africa correspondent, Will Ross, says the latest attack shows that even that area is unsafe. | The BBC's East Africa correspondent, Will Ross, says the latest attack shows that even that area is unsafe. |
Security was said to have been light inside the ceremony, with the ministers' bodyguards all waiting outside the meeting hall. | Security was said to have been light inside the ceremony, with the ministers' bodyguards all waiting outside the meeting hall. |
No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which was condemned as "inhumane and cowardly" attack by the African Union. | No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, which was condemned as "inhumane and cowardly" attack by the African Union. |
The AU said the blast would "not deter the resolve and determination of the African Union to support the people of Somalia in their quest for peace and reconciliation." | The AU said the blast would "not deter the resolve and determination of the African Union to support the people of Somalia in their quest for peace and reconciliation." |
The acting head of Amisom, Wafula Wamunyini, said said the blast was "intended to intimidate and blackmail" the UN-backed government. | The acting head of Amisom, Wafula Wamunyini, said said the blast was "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 AFP. | "We want to ensure everyone we are going to continue with our mission. We are going to continue providing our services," he told AFP. |
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991. | Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991. |
Pro-government troops regularly come under attack from the al-Shabab militant group, which is suspected of having links to al-Qaeda. | Pro-government troops regularly come under attack from the al-Shabab militant group, which is suspected of having links to al-Qaeda. |