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Explosion kills Somali ministers | Explosion kills Somali ministers |
(30 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, with government ministers among the dead. |
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 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 two of them had been killed, including Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali, while the others were seriously injured. |
Government and police officials told reporters after the explosion that as many as three ministers had been killed. | Government and police officials told reporters after the explosion that as many as three ministers had been killed. |
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. | |
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. | |
Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991. |