20091203
An explosion in a hotel in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Thursday killed three government ministers and at least one other person.
The source of Thursday's blast at the Shamo Hotel was not immediately clear, but witnesses said it appeared to be an attack targeting a graduation ceremony being held by Benadir University and attended by many government officials.
Senior government sources said Health Minister Qamar Aden Ali, Education Minister Ahmed Abdulahi Waayeel and Higher Education Minister Ibrahim Hassan Addow all died in the blast.
Dubai-based Al Arabiya Television said one of its cameramen, Hasan al-Zubair, had also been killed in the explosion.
The coastal city had been tense after supporters of the national police chief took to the streets in protest following rumors President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's planned to sack him.
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