At least 25 killed in hotel attack in Mogadishu
By Wang Xiaopeng
Xinhua
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Car explosion in Mogadishu Somali, at least 25 kills. (Photos: VCG)

MOGADISHU, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 people were killed and another 30 injured in a car bombing outside the popular Nasahablod 2 Hotel here Saturday, police said.
According to local police, 30 people, including a government minister, were rescued from the hotel as the gunfire continued between the extremists and security forces.
Extremist group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack and said its fighters were inside the hotel.
The attack came just two weeks after more than 350 people were killed in a truck bombing on a busy Mogadishu street, the worst single explosion in the history of the Somali capital. The government holds Al-Shabab responsible for it.
A police officer who requested not to be named told Xinhua there were many casualties at the scene. A second blast went off shortly after the first in the same location.
A witness said the second explosion went off just when a truck tried to tow a small vehicle from the scene as rescue teams were trying to gain access.
The attack happened as the country's leaders converged in Mogadishu for a high-level security meeting which was scheduled to kick off on Sunday.

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High angle view of buildings on the beach, Mogadishu, Somalia in a peaceful time.