Somali forces end al-Shabab siege at Mogadishu hotel

MOGADISHU, Aug. 21 (YPA) – Somali forces have ended a deadly siege by al-Shabab Takfiri militant group at a hotel in the country’s capital, a military official said on Sunday.

“The building still needed to be cleared of any explosives that may have been planted,” the official added.

At least 12 people, mostly civilians, were killed during a 30-hour clash between Somali elite forces and Al-Shabaab militants after they attacked the Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu on Friday evening and seizing control and holding guests hostage.

“The security forces have ended the siege now and the gunmen are dead, we’ve had no incoming gunfire from the building in the past hour,” AFP reported, citing a security commander.

Al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

E.M