Mogadishu hotel siege ends, minister, 19 others dead

Authorities in Somalia say a terrorist siege of a Mogadishu hotel has ended, but not before at least 20 people were killed, including a government minister.
The militant group al-Shabab is claiming responsibility for the attack, saying the hotel is frequented by what it calls “apostate government members.”
Somalia’s foreign minister says among the dead is the country’s environments minister, Buri Mohamed Hamza.
The Somali National News Agency said Sunday the death toll stands at 20, including three staff members of a radio station.
Police say the terrorists set off a car bomb outside the Hotel Naso-Hablod Saturday afternoon before gunmen burst into the building, firing their weapons at random and seizing hostages. Police stormed the hotel and engaged the gunmen in a firefight, cornering them on the top floor.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has condemned the attack, the second by al-Shabab in Somalia during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.