Death toll of Somali blasts rises to 11

A firefighter looks at a destroyed car at the scene of an explosion outside the Jazeera hotel in Mogadishu, Jan 1, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

MOGADISHU - The death toll from the twin car-bomb explosions that targeted a hotel in Somali capital Mogadishu has risen to 11 while dozens more were injured, Somali police and local media reports said.

The vehicles laden with explosives went off in quick succession outside the Jazeera hotel near the international airport in the capital. The hotel is frequented by government officials and local business people.

"We can confirm that the death toll now stands at 11 including four government soldiers and five civilians," police officer Yusuf Hire told Xinhua.

Local media reports said 10 were killed and "dozens more injured in the blasts that targeted the heavily-fortified hotel."

There is no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed condemned the attack. "Terrorists have started 2014 as they finished 2013 with indiscriminate violence & killings. Will only serve to unite # Somalia against them," Prime Minister Abdiweli tweeted.

Al-Shabaab, Somali militant group linked to Al-Qaida, has been waging deadly insurgency against Somali government and forces of Africa Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

AMISOM officials said the attack was carried by with vehicles laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Field hospitals of the forces were on stand by to receive the injured, AMISOM tweeted.