Police have said that the death toll from an assault by Islamic militants from the group al-Shabaab on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu has jumped to at least 15.
The statement came amid reports that Somalian security forces have retaken control of the hotel following a deadly 12-hour standoff with terrorists.
"At least 15 people died, including Somalia's ambassador to Geneva, and at least 20 others were wounded," Colonel Farah Aden, a senior police officer at the scene, was quoted as saying by Reuters.
He added that "those who died include civilians, hotel guards and government soldiers."
