Reports say at least seven people have been killed in an attack on a hotel in southern Somalia, including Canadian-Somali TV journalist Hodan Nalayeh, BBC News reported.

Nalayeh and her husband are among those reported to have been killed.

Officials and survivors say a suicide bomber rammed a car containing explosives into the Asasey hotel in the port of Kismayo, and gunmen then stormed the building.

Islamist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack.