FOG BLOG WORLD NEWS LOG : MILITANT STRIKE ON SOMALIA HOTEL KILLS 20!

At least 20 killed after militants storm hotel in Somali capital Takeover in Mogadishu began with explosions, al-Shabaab group claims responsibility Islamist militants have stormed a hotel in Somalia's capital, engaging in an hours-long exchange of fire with security forces that left at least 20 people dead, according to police and witnesses.

In addition, at least 40 people were also wounded in the late Friday night attack and security forces rescued many others, including children, from the scene at Mogadishu's popular Hayat Hotel, they said Saturday.

The attack started with explosions outside the hotel before the gunmen entered the building.

Somali forces were still trying to end the siege of the hotel almost 24 hours after the attack started. Gunfire could still be heard Saturday evening as security forces tried to contain the last gunmen thought to be holed up on the hotel's top floor.

The Islamist extremist group al-Shabaab, which has ties with al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack, the latest of al-Shabaab's attempts to strike places visited by government officials. The hotel siege is the first major attack in Mogadishu since Somalia's new leader, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, took over in May.