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Mali announces state of emergency after hotel siege Mali hotel attack: Hunt for three suspects
(about 2 hours later)
A 10-day state of emergency has been announced in Mali following an attack on a hotel by suspected Islamist militants in the capital, Bamako, in which gunmen killed 19 people. Malian security forces are hunting three suspects connected to the attack on a hotel in the capital, Bamako, on Friday, in which 19 people were killed.
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has also declared three days of mourning. Two militants were also killed, after special forces stormed the hotel.
Announcing the death toll, the president said two militants had also been killed. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has declared a state of emergency and three days of national mourning.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its affiliate, al-Murabitoun, said they carried out the attack.Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its affiliate, al-Murabitoun, said they carried out the attack.
More than 130 hotel guests and staff were freed when Malian special forces, French special forces and off-duty US servicemen stormed the Radisson Blu hotel on Friday to break the siege. Gunmen entered the upscale Radisson Blu hotel on Friday morning, shooting as their vehicle broke through a security barrier, one eyewitness said.
More than 130 hotel guests and staff were later freed when Malian special forces, French special forces and off-duty US servicemen stormed the hotel to break the siege.
Among those killed were three Chinese business executives, and China's President Xi Jinping has called the attack "cruel and savage", Reuters news agency reports.Among those killed were three Chinese business executives, and China's President Xi Jinping has called the attack "cruel and savage", Reuters news agency reports.
A US national was also killed, and US President Barack Obama said the attack was yet another reminder that the "scourge of terrorism" threatened many nations. A US national also died, and US President Barack Obama said the attack was yet another reminder that the "scourge of terrorism" threatened many nations.
UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said three Britons in the hotel were safe. UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said three Britons who had been in the hotel were safe.
President Keita said Mali would "do everything to eradicate terrorism" in the country.President Keita said Mali would "do everything to eradicate terrorism" in the country.
Earlier reports said at least 27 people had died.
A UN official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said 12 bodies were found in the basement and 15 on the second floor.
The victimsThe victims
Why Mali is an insurgent hotspot
Find out about Mali
It is not clear how many gunmen too part. Eyewitnesses said up to 13 entered the hotel shooting and shouting "God is greatest!" in Arabic - however the company that runs the hotel, Rezidor Group, said on Friday that only two attackers were involved.It is not clear how many gunmen too part. Eyewitnesses said up to 13 entered the hotel shooting and shouting "God is greatest!" in Arabic - however the company that runs the hotel, Rezidor Group, said on Friday that only two attackers were involved.
The claim by the Saharan jihadist group allied to al-Qaeda that they were behind the attack is a reminder that the country still faces an insurgency, says the BBC's Frank Gardner. The claim by a Saharan jihadist group allied to al-Qaeda that they were behind the attack is a reminder that the country still faces an insurgency, says the BBC's Frank Gardner.
In 2013, French forces managed to reverse the takeover of much of Mali by Islamist militants.In 2013, French forces managed to reverse the takeover of much of Mali by Islamist militants.
But it is a large country with porous borders and areas of ungoverned space in which jihadist groups have been able to hide and plan attacks, our correspondent says.But it is a large country with porous borders and areas of ungoverned space in which jihadist groups have been able to hide and plan attacks, our correspondent says.
It has not been helped by the ease with which weapons can come across from Libya, nor by the proximity of a murderous insurgency in Nigeria.It has not been helped by the ease with which weapons can come across from Libya, nor by the proximity of a murderous insurgency in Nigeria.
There is as yet no established link with the attacks in Paris one week ago that killed 130 people.There is as yet no established link with the attacks in Paris one week ago that killed 130 people.
In August, suspected Islamist gunmen killed 13 people, including five UN workers, during a hostage siege at a hotel in the central Malian town of Sevare.In August, suspected Islamist gunmen killed 13 people, including five UN workers, during a hostage siege at a hotel in the central Malian town of Sevare.
France, the former colonial power in Mali, intervened in the country in January 2013, when al-Qaeda-linked militants threatened to march on Bamako after taking control of the north of the country.France, the former colonial power in Mali, intervened in the country in January 2013, when al-Qaeda-linked militants threatened to march on Bamako after taking control of the north of the country.
The UN force in Mali took over responsibility for security in the country from French and African troops in July 2013, after the main towns in the north had been recaptured from the Islamist militants.The UN force in Mali took over responsibility for security in the country from French and African troops in July 2013, after the main towns in the north had been recaptured from the Islamist militants.
Militancy in Mali:Militancy in Mali:
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