By Monday night smoke was still billowing from the Westgate Shopping Mall in Kenya where several civilians are still being held hostage by Al Shabab militants who have links to al-Qaeda.
Today the siege between the militants and Kenyan forces enters into its fourth day.
Security forces are still making efforts to neutralise the militants as the death toll continues to rise.
Two of the terrorists have been killed by Kenyan forces as heavy gunfire could be heard from the mall.
On Monday morning, the International Criminal Court said Kenya’s Deputy Prime Minister William Ruto would be allowed to return to East Africa to help resolve the crisis.
Ruto is on trial for crimes against humanity in relation to election violence in 2007
The militants are said to have carried out the killings in response to Kenya’s military presence in south Somalia, where al-Shabab is aiming to establish an Islamic state.
Kenyan defence forces tweeted: “All efforts are under way to bring this matter to a speedy conclusion”, while safely rescuing hostages is a priority.
Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta told reporters: “The criminals are now located in one place within the building.
“With the professionals on site, we have as good a chance to neutralise the terrorists as we could hope for”.
Kenyatta lost two of his relatives in the attack which began on Saturday.
British Defence secretary, Philip Hammond, promised assistance to Kenya after the British government held a cobra meeting.
Hammond said:”We’re in close touch with the Kenyan authorities and we stand ready to provide them with any additional assistance they require”.
Kenyatta assured the nation the forces would punish the terrorists, he said: “I assure Kenyans that we have as good a chance to successfully neutralise the terrorists as we can hope for. We will punish the masterminds swiftly and painfully.”
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