Somalia: Tributes to minister killed in al-Shabab hotel attack
Tributes have been paid to a Somali minister who was among those killed in an attack by the Islamist group al-Shabab on a popular hotel in Mogadishu.
Militants detonated a car bomb outside the Naso-Hablod hotel, before storming it and taking hostages on Saturday.
The UN envoy in Somalia described Environment Minister Buri Mohamed Hamza as “passionate advocate”. He was among at least 15 people killed at the hotel.
Al-Shabab launches frequent attacks in a bid to oust the UN-backed government.
It is not clear how the minister died. But witnesses said the militants shot randomly at guests in the hotel, often used by politicians and tourists.
A gun battle then erupted between Somali forces and the attackers.
