Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Mogadishu Hotel Attack Claims at Least 23

by VOA News

   Somali police said Sunday they have ended an Islamist militant siege of
   a hotel in the capital.
   Officials say at least 23 people were killed in the attack on the
   popular Nasa Hablod Two hotel in Mogadishu. Dozens more were injured in
   the explosion.

   Militants stormed the hotel Saturday, following a car bomb blast at the
   hotel's gate.

   Police say they have captured two of the attackers and have killed two
   more.

   The al-Shabab militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack
   on the hotel.

   There was a second car bomb blast Saturday near the former parliament
   building.The extent of the damage from that explosion was not
   immediately clear.

   WATCH: Mogadishu Rocked By 2 Explosions

   The twin bombings came exactly two weeks after a huge truck blast
   killed at least 358 people at a busy Mogadishu intersection.
   Somalia's government blamed the militant al-Shabab group for the Oct.
   14 attack, although the militant group has not claimed responsibility.