Gunmen Kill 31 in Somalia Hotel Attack

A nurse treats a wounded civilian at Medina hospital in Mogadishu, 24 Aug 2010

Islamist militants attacked a hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu Tuesday, killing more than 30 people, including six members of parliament.

The Somali insurgent group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack through its spokesman, Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage.
Witnesses told VOA's Somali service that three armed men attacked the Muna Hotel at about 10 am local time.

They say the men shot two guards outside the hotel before storming inside and going room-to-room, spraying gunfire.  

The hotel houses many Somali lawmakers and officials.  One member of parliament, Hawo Abdullahi Qayad, told VOA that two of the attackers had suicide vests and blew themselves up when they ran out of bullets.