Kenya siege reaches tense standoff

2013-09-22 173

PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3

By Sunday morning al-Qaeda linked militants were still holding an unknown number of hostages at an upmarket shopping mall in the Kenyan capital.

Security forces were locked in a stalemate with the Somali Islamist al-Shabab militants who've claimed responsibility for the attack.

At least 39 people have been killed.

They include two Canadians and two French nationals.

The U.S. said several of its citizens were among the wounded.

Kenya's president says some of his own relatives are among the dead.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) KENYAN PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA SAYING:

"I ask God to give you comfort as you confront this tragedy, and I know what you feel, having also, personally lost very close family members in this attack."

The bloodshed began on Saturday when gunmen stormed the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi.

Some survivors spoke of dramatic escapes.

(SOUNDBITE)(English)

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