Gunmen hurl grenades at Kenya mall rescuers amid siege

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NAIROBI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qaida-linked Somali gunmen on early Monday hurled grenades from inside Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall at security forces trying to rescue remaining hostages, an eyewitness told Xinhua.

The witness said nobody was injured in the incident which comes as the Kenyan security forces prepare for the final assault against the militants who stormed the upscale market frequently by wealthy Kenyans and expatriates on Saturday.

"These gunmen threw grenades this morning from inside the mall. However, nobody was injured in the incident. It seems they are worn out. Maybe they want to blow up themselves and the entire building. They did the same thing overnight," the witness who did not want to be named told Xinhua.

The heavy gunfire came after the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) confirmed they had secured most of the building as they strive to bring the operation which entered its third day on Monday to a "speedy conclusion."

"Most of the hostages have been released and KDF has taken control of most parts of the building. We believe there are no more than ten hostages remaining inside the building," KDF spokesperson Cyrus Oguna said.

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