68 dead in Kenya shooting; hostage standoff continues

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NAIROBI, KENYAA large explosion rocked the Kenyan mall where Islamic extremists are holding hostages a day after attacking the upscale shopping center. The Red Cross said a rescue operation Sunday recovered nine more bodies, raising the death toll to 68 people.

Associated Press journalists at the Westgate mall said the explosion Sunday afternoon was by far the largest in the 30-hour siege. There big blast was followed by silence.

An estimated 10 to 15 militant attackers are in the shopping mall holding an unknown number of captives, said Kenyan officials. The Kenyan military has gone into the four-story mall and there have been sporadic gun battles. Kenyan troops were seen carrying in at least two rocket propelled grenades. Earlier military helicopters hovered over the mall.

Earlier Sunday Kenyan army helicopters hovered over the mall.

There are fears of a protracted standoff in which the terrorists use the captives as pawns.