Ghanaian poet, Kenyan president's nephew among those killed in mall attack

Ghanaian poet and diplomat Kofi Awoonor, pictured above was among the 59 killed during the attack on Westgate Mall in Kenya yesterday. He was in Nairobi as a participant in the Storymoja Hay Festival, a 4-day celebration of writing, thinking and storytelling. The Ghanaian govt confirmed his death early Sunday morning. He was 78 years old. His son was also shot, but was not killed.

Also the president's nephew, Mbugua and his fiance Wahito were killed in the attack yesterday.

Over 1,000 people have so far been evacuated from the mall, but an unknown number of hostages are still trapped inside with the terrorists believed to be about 15. Kenyan security forces have been locked in a standoff with gunmen since yesterday. Gun shots have been heard all morning in the area.

Heavily armed Islamic extremists pulled up in several cars yesterday and shot their way into the most upmarket shopping centre in Nairobi, ordering Muslims out if they could prove their religion by reciting a prayer or answering a question on Islam. They started killing those who failed the test.

BBC reported that at least one of the attackers was a woman who had some kind of leadership role.