MOGADISHU, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Union (AU) and the United States on Monday condemned Saturday's hotel bombing in Mogadishu in which 27 people had been killed and several others injured.
In separate statements, the AU mission in Somalia and Washington said increased attacks which have claimed more than 400 lives this month will only embolden Somalis to unite in the fight against terrorism.
Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Francisco Madeira said Saturday's attack on Nasa Hablod Hotel 2 is aimed at disrupting businesses and efforts to rebuild the Horn of Africa nation.
"The attack is yet another proof of complete disregard for the sanctity of human life by Al-Shabaab terrorists in their quest to realize their selfish objectives," Madeira said.
The AU said the barbaric act which came two weeks after the Oct. 14 terrorist attack, points to a deliberate insistence by Al-Shabaab in targeting and taking the lives of innocent civilians and destruction of their source of livelihood.
"The latest cowardly act yet again attests to Al-Shabaab persistent action to eliminate thriving businesses and deter progress being made by the hardworking Somali people in stabilizing their country," Madeira added.
He reiterated the continued commitment of the pan African body to work with the Somali people and their government to ensure that the remaining pockets of the terror group are destroyed.
The statement comes after Internal Security Minister Mohamed Abukar Islow said that 27 people were killed in the hotel attack, saying they arrested five suspects for the Oct. 14 attack in Mogadishu.
"Twenty seven people were killed in the hotel attack, five Al-Shabaab fighters carried out the attack, three of them were captured and security agencies are questioning them now"," Islow said on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, the United States sent its condolences to the families and friends of those injured and killed, particularly the families of government and security officials who perished in the attack.
"The United States remains committed to working with our Somali, African Union, and international partners to degrade and defeat terrorism as Somalia continues on a path to stability and prosperity for its people," Washington said in a statement issued from its embassy in Mogadishu.
The United States commended the swift response of Somali security forces, which detained some of the terrorists and saved dozens of lives.
