MOGADISHU, Somalia, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- The Somali Islamic group al-Shabaab denied responsibility for the deadly hotel bombing in Mogadishu, blaming the government instead, the group's spokesman said.
Sheik Ali Mohamud Rage said the government was responsible for Thursday's blast at Hotel Shamo that killed at least 22 people, including students, government ministers and journalists, the BBC reported Friday. More than 60 people were wounded.
"We declare that al-Shabaab did not mastermind that explosion," Rage said. "We believe it is a plot by the government itself. It is not in the nature of al-Shabaab to target innocent people."
Presidential spokesman Hassan Haile had told the BBC Thursday he thought al-Shabaab masterminded the attack during a graduation ceremony.
Rage said some government officials were seen leaving the hotel before the bomb exploded, leading to the belief "that they were behind the killing."
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed described the attack as a "national disaster," the British broadcaster reported.
He called the victims "dear citizens ... unjustly assassinated while carrying out their duty to the nation."
The blast occurred during a ceremony for medical students graduating from Benadir University.
