Al Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab launched the attack, a spokesman for the Somali government, Ismael Mukhtar Omar, said, adding that "there is gunfire ongoing inside."
Two of the attackers have been shot dead by Somali security forces, according to Mukhtar.
Forces continue to fight the other gunmen in the hotel and are trying to gain access to the upper floors, Mukhtar said.
Somalia's Ministry of Information confirmed the death of Abdirisak Abdi, a ministry official. ...
