December 3, 2009 7:16 PM

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Suicide bomber in Somalia kills 19 people including three ministers

A suicide bomber disguised as a woman has killed at least 19 people including three government ministers in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Officials said 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. According to reports from the scene there was a huge explosion in the meeting hall of Shamo hotel where hundreds of people were gathered for the graduation.Five government ministers were in the hotel at the time of the attack and three of them had been killed. They were Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali, Education Minister Ahmed Abdulahi Waayeel and Higher Education Minister Ibrahim Hassan Addow.Most of the dead were believed to be studets and two journalists were also killed.No-one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. 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 a news agency that officials had a photograph of the man.

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