 "Mali, Attack, Hostage, Bamako")
Gunmen were today holding 125 guests and 13 employees hostage at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, according to the hotel chain.
"We are closely following the hostage-taking incident," said the Rezidor Hotel Group. "According to our latest information 125 guests and 13 employees are still in the building."
"Our highest concern is the safety of all our guests and employees in the hotel. We are in constant contact with the authorities." An Al Qaeda-affiliated African jihadist group 'al Mourabitoun' claimed responsibility for the attack.
A spokesperson for the group told AFP that the figure was the latest available, and took into account the number of hostages freed earlier.
Mali trooper assist a hostage, centre, to leave the scene, from the Radisson Blu hotel to safety after gunmen attacked the hotel in Bamako, Mali. Photo: PTI
The gunmen are believed to have entered the 190-room hotel around 0700 GMT in a car with diplomatic plates before seizing 170 guests and staff in a suspected Islamist hostage-taking that has left at least three people dead.
Special forces are storming Bamako's Radisson Blu and dozens of hostages have been freed, according to local television and security sources.
Witnesses described "around a dozen" armed assailants, while security sources spoke of two or three "jihadist" attackers. Special forces from US and France are assisting in the operation to free the hostages.
President Barack Obama today said the US is monitoring the situation in Mali.
Obama, currently visiting Malaysia, was speaking during a press meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Kuala Lumpur.
In Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby also said the US is closely following reports of the ongoing hostage situation involving shooters at the hotel in Mali's capital Bamako.
"We are aware US citizens might be present at the hotel. The US Embassy in Bamako is working to verify the information. Given the fluidity of the situation, we do not have any additional details to share at this time," Kirby said.
"Private US citizens are encouraged to contact their family. US citizens should adhere to the instructions of local authorities and monitor local media," he said.
