Nine killed in Somalia hotel attack

Nine people died after al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents stormed a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu, battling security forces until the early hours yesterday.

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," said policeman Sadik Ali. "Nine people including four attackers died and over 10 civilians were injured."

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 700 US military personnel last month.

Among the dead are General Mohamed Nur Galal, a well-known retired army veteran who lived in the hotel. Another general and more than 100 civilians were rescued from the hotel.

The hotel is frequented by Somali officials, security forces and community leaders.