Al-Qaida group raids Burkina Faso hotel, at least 20 dead

At least 20 were killed and 15 others wounded after an Al-Qaida affiliated group attacked the Splendid Hotel in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, and took hostages there on Friday, Xinhua reported.

SITE Intelligence group, a US-based monitor group, said on its website "Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed credit for the raid at the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, reporting its execution by the recently-joined al-Murabitoon Battalion."

Burkina faso security forces have begun assault to recapture the hotel and rescue hostages. Some hostages have been freed, media reported.

The Splendid Hotel often hosts Westerners, including UN staff and journalists, CNN reported, adding that two car exploded outside the hotel before six gunmen raided the hotel and took hostages there.