Somali minister among 15 killed in extremist attack on hotel

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somali police say that a Cabinet minister is among the 15 killed in an Islamic extremist attack on a hotel in Somalia's capital.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein, a senior Somali police officer, said four attackers also died in the assault on Saturday which was claimed by al-Shabab, Somalia's militant rebels who are allied to al-Qaida.

He said State Minister Buri Hamza was among those killed. Hamza died when his hotel room collapsed Saturday because of the powerful car bomb which extremists used to blast their way into the Nasa-Hablod Hotel.

Police and hospital sources said at least 34 people were injured.

It is the second attack on a hotel since the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in early June. Both attacks have been claimed by al-Shabab.