Mogadishu, Aug 17 (TIWN) At least 16 people, including a police officer, were killed and dozens others injured after the Somalian security forces ended a five-hour siege by the al-Shabab terror group at a beachside hotel in the capital city of Mogadishu, a government official said on Monday.

"The total number of casualties at the Elite Hotel attack is 16. Five of the 16 people killed were the attackers, while one police officer was killed in the rescue operation," Omar said in a statement.

The attack also killed two senior officials from the Information and Defence Ministries.