Hotel in Somali capital Mogadishu hit by car bombs

Two car bombs have exploded outside a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu, killing at least eight people.

The explosions occurred at the Jazeera hotel close to Mogadishu's airport and is popular with Somali politicians.

Reports say the blasts were followed by exchanges of fire between security forces and the attackers.

The Somali Islamist militant group Al Shabab, who were driven out of Mogadishu in 2011, have said they carried out the attack.

The al-Qaeda-linked group still controls many southern and central areas of the country and has continued to launch attacks on the capital.

Last week at least 11 people, including six soldiers, were killed by a remote-controlled bomb in a restaurant in Mogadishu.

First ePost