CORRECTS - Explosion in Somali capital, casualties feared

CORRECTS AL-SHABAAB SPELLING IN 4TH PARA

By Nour Gelle Gedi

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) – An explosion has occurred in front of a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Saturday afternoon, eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency.

Witnesses said the attack was caused by a car suicide bomber at the entrance of a hotel, which led to an exchange of gunfire between security guards and the assailants who tried to infiltrate the hotel.

According to a source at the hotel, who requested anonymity, "two successive explosions took place inside the establishment and the attack left several dead and wounded."

The al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.

A medical source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said that rescue teams had managed to carry seven injured out of the explosion site.

Somali special forces were immediately dispatched to the scene of the attack to evacuate the hotel that is mostly frequented by government officials.

Several Twitter reports mentioned casualties but there has been no confirmation as of yet.

Exchange of gunfire was still ongoing at 1400GMT.

*Anadolu Agency Correspondent Felix Tih contributed to this report from Ankara.