'At least 31 killed in hotel'

Somalia's Information Ministry said at least 31 people including six members of parliament had been killed when gunmen stormed a Mogadishu hotel today.

Somalia's Information Ministry said at least 31 people including six members of parliament had been killed when gunmen stormed a Mogadishu hotel on Tuesday.

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"Six of the MPs who were staying at the hotel were among the dead in the attack. In addition, five government security personnel died in the operation. They (the gunmen) lastly blew themselves up," a ministry statement said.

At least two insurgents burst into the Huna Hotel holding hand grenades and shooting indiscriminately, according to a spokesman for the African Union peacekeeping mission that is propping up Somalia's Western-backed government.