美国有线新闻 CNN 索马里首都遭遇史上最严重炸弹袭击（在线收听）

Somalia is a nation that extends out between the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It's just a little smaller than Texas. And for years, Somalia has been considered a failed state because of tremendous problems brought on by war, natural disasters, famine and terrorism.

Al Shabaab is the name of an Islamic militant group that's been fighting the Somali government for more than 10 years. Al Shabaab no longer controls the capital, Mogadishu, but it's been responsible for a number of deadly car bomb attacks in the city. That's why it's the main suspect in an assault that happened over the weekend.

Two car bombs we?nt off near a popular hotel in the heart of Mogadishu. The initial blast killed at least 300 people, making it Somalia's deadliest attack in years. Hundreds of others were hospitalized and more than 30 of them were too badly injured to be treated in Somalia. They had to be airlifted to Turkey for medical care.

Somalia's president blamed al Shabaab for what he called a heinous act, though the terrorist group didn't initially say it was responsible. It usually does.

Some Somalis have turned out to publicly demonstrate against the group. The nation is observing three days of mourning for the victims.