Iran Press/Africa: At least 26 people have been killed in an attack on a hotel in southern Somalia. Al-Shabaab militants have accepted responsibility for the attack.
Gunmen stormed the Medina hotel in the port city of Kismayo after a suicide bomber drove a vehicle loaded with explosives into the building on Friday, The Guardian newspaper reported.
"A Briton, Americans, Kenyans and Tanzanians were among the dead," said Ahmed Mohamed, the president of the autonomous Jubaland region, adding: "َA presidential candidate for the upcoming regional elections was also killed."
"Four attackers were shot dead," a police officer said.
Witnesses said a social media activist, her husband and a local journalist were among those killed.
The attack is the latest in a long line of bombings and shootings claimed by al-Shabaab.
According to several sources, most of those staying at the hotel were politicians and traders preparing for the upcoming regional elections.
Al-Shabaab militants, which declared their allegiance to al-Qaida in 2012, have fought for more than a decade to topple the Somali government. 101/211/207
Read more:
4 killed in Somali car bombing
Car bomb attack claims lives of 15 people in Somali capital
