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UN envoy condemns Mogadishu hotel attacks as death toll rises to 12

Xinhua, July 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Top UN envoy in Somalia on Saturday condemned Friday's attacks on two hotels in Mogadishu that killed 12 people and injured several others.

Nicholas Kay, Special Representative of the UN Secretary- General for Somalia, said the attack at Wehliye hotel in central Mogadishu also left several civilians, security forces, AMISOM troops and government officials injured.

"I condemn Friday's terrorist attacks in Mogadishu in the strongest terms and am appalled by the complete disregard for the lives of innocent civilians shown by the attackers," Kay said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

He said an attack during Iftar prayers, a sacred time for families and communities to come together, was an assault on the beliefs of Muslims all over the world.

Three gunmen wearing government army uniforms entered the building of Wehliye Hotel on Friday as guests inside were breaking their fast, observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan.

The attackers engaged the civilians and security in fierce gunfire before the allied forces repelled them, killing three of the attackers, said police officer Ahmed Shire.

He said the security forces later found some bodies inside the building, bringing death toll to 12.

"We got more bodies in the hotel, the number now stands at 12 people," Shire told Xinhua by telephone. "We also killed three attackers and another one detonated his car in front of the Wehliye hotel."

The police officer also said the gunmen launched an attack on another hotel, Siyad, near the presidential palace, which resulted in some injuries.

Somalia's Al-Shabaab militants, who used to control much of Mogadishu during the years from 2007 to 2011, but was pushed out of Somalia's capital and other major cities by the AU forces, claimed responsibility for the two hotel attacks.

The UN envoy lauded the swift action taken by the Somali and African Union security forces, who successfully repelled the attacks and prevented higher casualties.

"The United Nations continues to work actively with the Federal Government, AMISOM and international partners to build strong national security and government institutions to secure the country," Kay added.

He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of all those who have been killed as a result of Friday's attacks and wished them a swift recovery. Endi