Al-Shabab bomber kills Somali minister

Witness Mohamed Nur said a small car headed toward the gate of the Madinah Hotel in Belet Weyne, then drove into vehicles leaving the hotel and exploded. Information Minister Farhan Ali Mohamud announced the death of National Security Minister Omar Hashi Aden but declined to give any other details. President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed accused Al-Qaeda of being behind the bombing but did not offer any evidence. He said the attack also killed a senior Somali diplomat. Rebel Al-Shabab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage told local radio stations by phone that his group carried out the attack and that one of their fighters died, Kazinform cites Arab News. See www.arabnews.com for full version.