Mogadishu: Nine people died after Al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents stormed a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu, battling security forces until the early hours of Monday, a police spokesman said.
A suicide car bombing on Sunday evening was followed by a shootout between Al Shabaab militants and security forces at the Hotel Afrik.
"The operation is over now. Nine people including four attackers died and over 10 civilians were injured," Sadik Ali, told reporters from the scene and via Facebook.
The attack on a hotel in the heart of the heavily fortified city comes as Somali politicians wrangle acrimoniously over delayed elections and follows the withdrawal of around 700 US military personnel last month.
Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble said in a statement that former military general Mohamed Nur Galal was among those killed in Monday's attack.
"I condemn the barbaric attack," he said. "General Mohamed Nur Galal will be remembered for his over 50 year role in defending the country."
