MOGADISHU, May 12 (Reuters) - An explosion near the U.N. compound in Mogadishu killed three people on Saturday and forced the United Nations' top aid official to scrap a tour of the shell-shattered capital.

A security source said a senior intelligence official was killed when gunmen detonated an explosive device planted in his car shortly after U.N. emergency relief coordinator John Holmes landed in Mogadishu where he was to meet government officials.

The source said the attack, the latest killing targeting senior officials in Mogadishu, was unrelated to Holmes' visit.

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