Somalia: Gunmen opened fire at hotel used by officials

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Heavy gunfire renewed on Monday targeting a busy and popular hotel near the presidential palace in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, where Somali officials are staying at the Villa Rose Hotel, which is located near Somalia's heavily-fortified presidential palace.

Simultaneously, Parliament session has been postponed due to the attack.

Terrorists from the al-Shabaab organization, an al-Qaeda affiliate, attacked the on Sunday, according to the Somali Guardian news agency.

According to the news agency, the al-Shabaab militants had stormed the hotel and clashed with the police. Witnesses stated there were loud explosions and heavy gunfire in the area.

Last month, two trucks loaded with explosives detonated near the busy Zobe junction close to key government offices.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud confirmed to reporters on Sunday that the death toll who died in the October 29 twin bombing attack exceeded 100.

Mahmoud had previously vowed to launch an all-out war against terrorism following a series of attacks that included and are not limited to the 30-hour hotel siege in Mogadishu. 

It is worth noting that the Somalian government had urged citizens not to approach Al-Shabaab as government forces and local clan militias have launched an offensive in Hiraan, 300km away from Beledweyne, against the terrorist organization that has waged an insurrection against Somalia for over 15 years now.

Al-Shabab was driven out of Mogadishu a decade ago but eventually seized control of large areas of the countryside, and continues to conduct deadly attacks in the capital and elsewhere.