Two killed in Mogadishu hotel attack

At least two people were killed and eight others injured after two huge explosions took place at a popular hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, police said.

Security officer Muktar Omar told Xinhua news agency that the security forces are still fighting the gunmen who forced their way inside SYL Hotel located near the presidential palace on Friday.

"It's still too early to give the exact number of casualties as fighting is still underway," Omar said.

"Car bomb hit the gate of the SYL hotel while many Somalis were inside. There were many casualties, but we can't establish the number of the deaths or the wounded people," the police officer near the scene told Xinhua, adding that after the explosion, militants stormed the hotel.

Huge blasts followed by heavy gunfire could be heard from SYL Hotel as fighting between security forces and gunmen ensued.