Dozens released from Bombay hotel

Nearly 100 people have been released from one of Bombay's top hotels that was seized by militants on Wednesday. Soon after guests and staff, many of them westerners, left the Oberoi- Trident, India's security chief said the complex had been cleared of gunmen. Dozens released from Bombay hotel Troops continue to try to free hostages at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and a Jewish centre, also seized in the attacks that have killed at least 130. Gunfire continues to be heard at both sites. Meanwhile, India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said initial evidence about the attacks "indicates elements with links to Pakistan are involved", but added that details could not be given at this time. Earlier, the Indian navy took control of two Pakistani merchant navy ships and has been questioning their crews after witnesses said some of the militants came ashore on small speedboats. The Taj Mahal hotel (FoNet) 'Bodies in hall' The chief of India's National Security Guard, JK Dutt, said the Oberoi-Trident was "under our control". "We have killed two terrorists today," he said. "There was lots of firing, they also lobbed hand grenades. Some of them are unexploded, we are going to defuse them - you may hear some sound of explosions." Earlier, the army said at least one gunman with "two or more hostages" remained in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. More than 100 commandos have gone into the Taj Mahal and gunfire and explosions continue to be heard, say BBC correspondents outside the hotel. Indian commandos who managed to enter other parts of the Taj Mahal say they found at least 30 bodies in one hall. It is not clear if that number is included in the overall death toll. The commandos also said the militants were well aware of the layout of the hotel, and that they had recovered a Mauritius identity card as well as guns and money. The relief of the guests at the Oberoi-Trident was evident as at least 93 of them were escorted from the hotel on Friday morning following a 36-hour siege. They included 20 Air France crew members. One of those freed, Briton Mark Abell, spoke of his delight at seeing several heavily armed soldiers at his hotel door after spending so long inside his room. But he was shocked by the state of the hotel after the 36-hour siege. "The lobby was carnage, blood and guts everywhere. It was very upsetting," he told the BBC. Smoke bombs At first light, helicopters swooped over the Nariman House business and residential complex in south Bombay, which houses the Jewish outreach group Chabad Lubavitch. Commandos initially dropped smoke bombs to create confusion, and then several troops abseiled down ropes to secure the roof. They are said to have been tentatively moving down through the building, trying not to cause casualties among the hostages. Earlier, a woman and child were seen leaving the building, but it was unclear whether they had managed to escape or were released. The child was identified as the two-year-old son of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holzberg, the main representative at the ultra-orthodox outreach center. There was no word on the rabbi's fate. Claim Gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades targeted at least seven sites in Bombay late on Wednesday, opening fire indiscriminately on crowds at a major railway station, the two hotels, the Jewish centre, a hospital and a cafe frequented by foreigners. The attacks are the worst in India's commercial capital since nearly 200 people were killed in a series of bombings in 2006. A claim of responsibility has been made by a previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen. However, most intelligence officials are keeping an open mind as the attacks have thrown up conflicting clues, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says.

Dozens released from Bombay hotel

Troops continue to try to free hostages at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and a Jewish centre, also seized in the attacks that have killed at least 130.

Gunfire continues to be heard at both sites.

Meanwhile, India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said initial evidence about the attacks "indicates elements with links to Pakistan are involved", but added that details could not be given at this time.

Earlier, the Indian navy took control of two Pakistani merchant navy ships and has been questioning their crews after witnesses said some of the militants came ashore on small speedboats.

'Bodies in hall'

The chief of India's National Security Guard, JK Dutt, said the Oberoi-Trident was "under our control".

"We have killed two terrorists today," he said. "There was lots of firing, they also lobbed hand grenades. Some of them are unexploded, we are going to defuse them - you may hear some sound of explosions."

Earlier, the army said at least one gunman with "two or more hostages" remained in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.

More than 100 commandos have gone into the Taj Mahal and gunfire and explosions continue to be heard, say BBC correspondents outside the hotel.

Indian commandos who managed to enter other parts of the Taj Mahal say they found at least 30 bodies in one hall. It is not clear if that number is included in the overall death toll.

The commandos also said the militants were well aware of the layout of the hotel, and that they had recovered a Mauritius identity card as well as guns and money.

The relief of the guests at the Oberoi-Trident was evident as at least 93 of them were escorted from the hotel on Friday morning following a 36-hour siege. They included 20 Air France crew members.

One of those freed, Briton Mark Abell, spoke of his delight at seeing several heavily armed soldiers at his hotel door after spending so long inside his room.

But he was shocked by the state of the hotel after the 36-hour siege. "The lobby was carnage, blood and guts everywhere. It was very upsetting," he told the BBC.

Smoke bombs

At first light, helicopters swooped over the Nariman House business and residential complex in south Bombay, which houses the Jewish outreach group Chabad Lubavitch.

Commandos initially dropped smoke bombs to create confusion, and then several troops abseiled down ropes to secure the roof.

They are said to have been tentatively moving down through the building, trying not to cause casualties among the hostages.

Earlier, a woman and child were seen leaving the building, but it was unclear whether they had managed to escape or were released.

The child was identified as the two-year-old son of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holzberg, the main representative at the ultra-orthodox outreach center. There was no word on the rabbi's fate.

Claim

Gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades targeted at least seven sites in Bombay late on Wednesday, opening fire indiscriminately on crowds at a major railway station, the two hotels, the Jewish centre, a hospital and a cafe frequented by foreigners.

The attacks are the worst in India's commercial capital since nearly 200 people were killed in a series of bombings in 2006.

A claim of responsibility has been made by a previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen.

However, most intelligence officials are keeping an open mind as the attacks have thrown up conflicting clues, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says.