At least six people were killed and two ministers and a lawmaker were wounded on Friday in a suicide attack by militants on a hotel in the Somali capital, police said.
"So far we have confirmed six people dead, including soldiers and civilians," Farah Abdullahi, a police captain, said. "The death toll is sure to rise."
Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omar Arte and Transport Minister Ali Ahmed Jamac were among those wounded, along with at least one lawmaker, he said.
Al-Shabaab claims responsibility
"We are behind the attack. We targeted government officials in the hotel, this is part of our operation in Mogadishu," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's military operations spokesman, said.
