国际英语新闻：Official: siege close to end at Taj hotel

MUMBAI, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Intermittent gunshots were fired during the night of Friday as commandos were fighting militants hiding inside the Taj Mahal hotel in India's financial city of Mumbai, where a group of armed militants launched bombing attacks on 10 popular places on Wednesday.

    At least three-four militants are believed to be hiding inside the luxury hotel, a top official was quoted by IANS news as saying early Saturday morning. The official said that he expected the siege to be over by the morning.

    Security forces secured the 5-star Trident Oberoi hotel and a Jewish center -- Nariman House -- late Friday, but gunmen continued to hold out inside the Taj Mahal hotel.

Soldiers take position near the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, India, Nov. 28, 2008

At the Nariman House, a residential complex housing a prayer hall, commandos were air-dropped from helicopters in a first such operation ever. Two militants were killed but not before five of the hostages were eliminated by them.

    When the Trident Oberoi hotel was cleared of the militants Friday afternoon, as many as 30 hostages were found dead in the hotel, raising the toll in the worst terrorist strike against India to over 160 including 16 security personnel, the Press Trustof India said.

    Two militants were killed at the Trident Oberoi hotel and 11 militants were also eliminated.

Smoke billows from a room in Taj Mahal Hotel following explosions and a gun battle in Mumbai, India, Nov. 28, 2008.