A suicide bomber disguised as a veiled woman has killed at least 57 people including three government officials during a university graduation ceremony in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

 

It's the worst attack in the Horn of African country since June. Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed has sent his condolences to families of the victims. The UN Security Council, European Union and the African Union have strongly condemned the attack.

This amateur video captures the brutal moment.

Witnesses say the male bomber, dressed as a woman, sat through some of the speeches before approaching the podium and blowing himself up. The hotel was packed with graduates from Benadir University, their parents and officials when the blast tore through the ceremony.

Somalia's President has vowed the government will not be intimidated.

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, Somalia's President, said, "On behalf of the government and our Somali people, I pass my condolences to all the victims and their families. No one can intimidate us, nor change our minds from doing good for our people."

No group has immediately claimed responsibility. But suspicion has fallen on the militant group al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaida. It controls much of Somalia and has previously carried out several suicide attacks.

Somalia has been troubled by violence between government troops and anti-government armed forces for almost 15 years. The international community is worried the country will fall into another round of internal strife.