Military official: Somali forces end 30-hour hotel siege | Globalism
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Somali forces ended their siege of a hotel in the capital SomaliaAn army official in Mogadishu told Reuters on Sunday, adding that they were still removing explosives scattered around the building.
Officials told the Associated Press news agency that at least 20 people were killed. Somalia’s elite forces fought al-Qaeda-linked militants for 30 hours afterward Exploded and shot the life hotel Friday night.
“We are still investigating the explosions of several plastic bags scattered around the hotel,” said Muhammad Ali, a military official at the scene.
And the French news agency Agence France-Presse reported earlier that all the militants were killed, quoting a security commander.
Friday’s attack was the first major incident of its kind since President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud took office in May.
Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack.
Al-Shabab has been fighting for more than 10 years to overthrow the Somali government. It wants to establish its government on the basis of a strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Al Hayat Hotel is a popular hotel that houses MPs and other government officials.
Video of a shooting around a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia
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