At least seven people have been killed in a militant attack on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu. <br /><br /> Special forces troops, trained by the US, are said to have stormed the Hotel Maka Al Mukaram to rescue those trapped inside, who included government officials.<br /><br /> The troops reportedly killed most of the attackers. <br /><br /> The Somali ambassador to Switzerland was among those rescued. <br /><br /> Al-Qaeda linked group al Shabaab has claimed its followers were responsible for the attack. It wants to overthrow the government and impose its strict version of Sharia law in Somalia. <br /><br /> An offensive launched last year by African Union (AU) forces, along with the Somali army, has driven the group out of its strongholds in central and southern Somalia, where a series of US drone strikes have killed some of its top leaders.<br /><br /> Despite the military campaign, al Shabaab has continued to strike back using hit-and-run bomb attacks in Mogadishu and other towns. It has also struck out at countries supporting th
