Death toll from Somalia blasts rises to 45 - government official

A security officer from Doorbin Hotel assesses the debris after a suicide car explosion in front of the hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia February 24, 2018. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - The death toll from twin car bomb blasts in the Somali capital late on Friday has risen to 45 from the initially reported 18, a senior government official said on Saturday.

Al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the attack near the president's residence and a hotel close by.