Kenya Military Launches Attack to End Mall Siege | WPN World People News

Heavy gunfire has erupted at the Nairobi shopping mall, where Kenya's military is trying to end a two-day assault by Islamist gunmen.

A VOA reporter at the scene says the shooting Monday morning continued for about 15 minutes.

The military began an assault Sunday night on the upscale Westgate Mall, where an unknown number of hostages were being held.

A spokesman said most of the hostages who were trapped in the building by al-Qaida-linked militants around midday Saturday have been rescued, and most of the complex is secure.

Kenya's Red Cross says 68 people have died in the attack and at least 175 others wounded.

In an emotional speech Sunday, President Uhuru Kenyatta vowed to stand firm against the threat of terrorism, adding that Kenyan security forces have a good chance of neutralizing those responsible for the attack.

"They shall not get away with their despicable and beastly acts. Like the cowardly perpetrators now cornered in the building, we will punish the masterminds swiftly and indeed very painfully."

The president added that his nephew and his nephew's fiancee were among those killed in the attack.

"I feel the pain of every life we have lost and share your grief at our nation's loss."

The Somali terrorist group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it is in retaliation for Kenya's military intervention in Somalia. An al-Shabab spokesman said in an audio message, "Either leave our country or live with constant attacks."

Kenyan forces entered Somalia two years ago to fight al-Shabab militants who often had crossed the border to stage attacks.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with his Kenyan counterpart Sunday. Kerry called the attack "an enormous offense against everybody's sense of right and wrong.''

The U.N. Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also strongly condemned the attack. Ban called it a "premeditated" and "totally reprehensible" act targeting defenseless civilians.

Among those killed in the attack were three British nationals, as well as nationals from France, Canada, China, India and South Korea. The United States says no Americans were killed, but that some have been wounded.

U.S. President Barack Obama called President Kenyatta Sunday to express his condolences and reaffirm the U.S. commitment with Kenya to fight terrorism.

Source:Voice of America