Troops overpower militants to end hotel siege

Somali security forces stormed a hotel in the capital to end a near day-long siege by militants who killed nine people at the building near the president’s residence in the capital, police said.

Gunfire crackled from inside the hotel as the special forces fought the militants more than 12 hours after the armed group stormed the building in the centre of Mogadishu.

A police spokesperson said 60 civilians had been rescued, while a government minister said he and others had kicked down a door to escape after being caught in the hotel following the Monday evening prayers when a suicide bomber struck and the gunbattle broke out.