4 Killed In Militant Attack On Somalia Hotel Near President's Home

At least four persons have been killed in an ongoing siege by Al-Shabaab militants on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia.

At least four persons have been killed in an ongoing siege by Al-Shabaab militants on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia (File photo of a militant attack near Somali Parliament/ Representative image)

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At least four persons were killed in a siege by al-Shabaab militants on a hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Monday. According to news agency Reuters, the Parliament in the Somali capital postponed a scheduled session as a result of the attack.

The besieged hotel, Villa Rose, is situated near the Presidential residence. The attackers of the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab stormed the hotel on Sunday, using guns and explosives.

Sources said the Villa Rosa is frequented by government officials for meetings. A few of the government officials who were in the hotel at the time managed to escape through the windows, said security officers at the site.

Reuters quoted a local named Ismail Haaji as saying: "There is still heavy gunfire inside the hotel and we hear explosions from time to time ... we are still in our houses since last night, when the siege started."

The Somalian administration has deployed special forces units — Gaashaan and Haramcad — to counter the militants. Security personnel are doing everything to rescue the hostages, an officer said.

A statement on Parliament's Facebook page read: "All members of parliament of both councils are being informed that today's scheduled meeting has been postponed."

(With inputs from AFP.)