Explosion Rocks Mogadishu Hospital, Wounds Three

Three people were wounded in a suspected bomb blast inside the main hospital in the war-torn Somali capital, officials and witnesses said Monday.

The explosion occurred late Sunday inside a room near one of the main meeting halls of Banadir hospital.

"We were informed about a bomb explosion that occurred inside Banadir," said Dahir Adan, a government security official said.

"We are still investigating the reason but the initial reports indicate that several people were injured in the explosion."

The hospital in central Mogadishu provides life-saving care for severely malnourished children struggling from ongoing famine in the city's crowded camps for displaced people.

"I heard a large explosion which shook the whole building, it occurred inside one of the hospital rooms in the hospital and three people were slightly injured," said Sadiq Ali, a witness.

"There was nobody inside the room where the explosion occurred, this explosion has really shocked patients," said Shamso Mumin, another witness.

Many high ranking international officials have visited the hospital in recent months to draw attention to what the United Nations says is the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Several roadside bombs and grenade explosions have rocked Mogadishu since al-Qaida-linked Shebab rebels abandoned fixed positions there in August and switched to guerrilla attacks against the government.