8 Sep 2013

Blasts at Mogadishu restaurant and hotel kill 15

5:51 am on 8 September 2013

Explosions at a popular restaurant and hotel near the parliament building in Somalia's capital Mogadishu have killed 15 people.

The blasts hit the Village restaurant and Muna hotel. Both are popular with government workers and have been targeted before.

The BBC reports it was not clear who carried out the attacks, which appeared to tear much of the roof off the restaurant.

Somalia is battling an insurgency and high levels of crime.

The Village, about 1km from the presidential palace, is not within the city's security zone but is popular with journalists and those in political circles.