At least five people, including soldiers, have been killed in a terror attack on a hotel in Mali's central town of Sevare, media reported on Saturday.
Gunman have taken an unknown number of people as hostages at the Byblos Hotel, which is popular with UN workers. Two of the gunmen have also been killed, BBC reported.
The UN mission in the country said it believed "a member of the international personnel" was killed in the attack on Friday in the town, about 600 km north-east of the capital Bamako, the report said.
Mali has been fighting Islamist rebels in the north for a number of years.
Officials said an operation to free the hostages was underway, the report added.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app