by Rina Chandran

MUMBAI, INDIA - INDIAN commandos traded fire with Islamist militants as the endgame neared at a luxury hotel
and a Jewish centre in Mumbai on Friday, but the gunmen were thought to be still holding a handful of foreign hostages, officials said.

The head of one commando unit flushing out militants at the luxury Taj Mahal hotel said he had seen 12 to 15 bodies in one room among a total of 50 in the hotel.

The commandos found money, ammunition and an identity card from Mauritius that they suspected belonged to the militants, the commander, his face disguised by a black scarf and sunglasses, told a news conference.

Government and army officials said operations would be wrapped up within hours after Wednesday's brazen, coordinated attacks that killed at least 121 people.

At another site, the Trident-Oberoi Hotel, well-dressed guests, some dragging their suitcases, trickled out and were escorted into waiting buses and cars after a 36-hour siege.