Security forces end militant attack that killed 13 in Somalia

"The operation is over," police officer Major Mohamed Abdi told Reuters by telephone from Kismayu.

"So far we know 13 people died. Many people have been rescued. The four attackers were shot dead."

Members of the the al-Qaeda linked group stormed the hotel after targeting it with a car bomb on Friday while local elders and lawmakers were meeting to discuss approaching regional elections.