Islamist Al Shabaab Attack Somali Hotel, Kill At Least 11

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Two bombs ripped into a hotel in the Somali capital on Sunday and security forces fought Islamist al Shabaab gunmen who stormed inside the building for hours afterwards, police and witnesses said. At least 11 people were killed.

Al Shabaab, which has frequently launched attacks in Mogadishu in its bid to topple the Western-backed government, said it was behind the assault on the Sahafi hotel where government officials and lawmakers stay.

"Mujahideen (fighters) entered and took over Sahafi hotel where enemies lived," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's military operations spokesman, told Reuters.

The incident mirrored tactics used before by al Shabaab, in which it detonates bombs to break through security at targets and then sends in fighters.

Major Ahmed Nur, a police officer, told Reuters that a car bomb rammed the entrance to the hotel and was followed by second blast, which a security guard said was a second vehicle bomb.

Police said at least 11 people were killed, including the hotel owner, a lawmaker, a former military commander, a radio journalist and other civilians.

"We have also rescued many government officials by a ladder through the back wall," said Major Ismail Nur, another police officer.

Police exchanged fire with attackers inside the hotel for about three hours after the morning assault began. One police officer said fighters had fired on them from the rooftop.

African Union's AMISOM force, which has been leading a campaign with Somali troops against al Shabaab, were also at the scene, helping to clear the hotel of fighters.

A spokesman for AMISOM said the troops were "still mopping (up) floor by floor", and that there were four storeys.

The hotel lies near a busy area in Mogadishu known as K-4. Plumes of smoke rose above the capital on the Indian Ocean coast.

"We got phone calls from staff hiding in hotel rooms saying that there are several injured people in the hotel," police officer Ismail Nur said. "Some government officials are inside the hotel. The death toll may rise."

A Reuters witness saw wrecked cars and destroyed motorbikes in the area, as well as two dead civilians lying outside. At least three others were injured.