This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35330169
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 16 | Version 17 |
---|---|
Burkina Faso attack: Troops battle to end deadly hotel siege | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Exchanges of fire are continuing at a hotel in Burkina Faso's capital as special forces seek to break a deadly siege by suspected Islamist gunmen. | |
Some 30 hostages were freed overnight at Ouagadougou's luxury Splendid Hotel but there are fears that at least 20 people were killed. | |
Gunmen stormed the hotel and a nearby cafe after setting off bombs. | |
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has said it carried out the attack in the West African nation, monitors said. | |
French President Francois Hollande - whose forces are part of the operation against the militants - condemned the "odious and cowardly attack". | |
Remi Dandjinou, the Burkinabe communications minister, told the BBC there were between six and seven gunmen and they had been staying at the hotel. | |
He also said a member of the government, Minister of Public Works Clement Sawadogo, was among those freed at the hotel. | |
Thirty-three people were in hospital receiving treatment, he added. | Thirty-three people were in hospital receiving treatment, he added. |
French special forces and Burkinabe troops have been deployed at the hotel, which is used by UN staff and Westerners. | |
Hospital chief Robert Sangare quoted survivors as saying at least 20 people had died in the initial attack, before the security forces began their assault on the hotel. | Hospital chief Robert Sangare quoted survivors as saying at least 20 people had died in the initial attack, before the security forces began their assault on the hotel. |
Interior Minister Simon Compaore said 10 bodies had been found on the terrace of the nearby Cappuccino cafe. | |
The al-Murabitoun group, which reportedly merged with AQIM recently, was involved in the attack, monitors said. | |
Who are al-Murabitoun? | Who are al-Murabitoun? |
Witnesses said the gunmen had initially entered the Cappuccino cafe. One employee at the cafe told AFP news agency "several people" had been killed there. | Witnesses said the gunmen had initially entered the Cappuccino cafe. One employee at the cafe told AFP news agency "several people" had been killed there. |
Eyewitnesses reported hearing exchanges of gunfire between the men and security forces, as well as sporadic gunfire from inside the hotel, which is close to the country's international airport. | Eyewitnesses reported hearing exchanges of gunfire between the men and security forces, as well as sporadic gunfire from inside the hotel, which is close to the country's international airport. |
Who is the group responsible? | Who is the group responsible? |
The SITE monitoring group, which analyses jihadist networks, reports that al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has said it was behind the attack. | The SITE monitoring group, which analyses jihadist networks, reports that al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has said it was behind the attack. |
The monitoring group specifically stated that those responsible were the al-Murabitoun group, which is based in the Sahara desert in northern Mali and contains fighters loyal to the veteran Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar. | The monitoring group specifically stated that those responsible were the al-Murabitoun group, which is based in the Sahara desert in northern Mali and contains fighters loyal to the veteran Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar. |
Last month, the group announced it had merged with AQIM. Belmokhtar, a one-eyed commander who fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s, was once a member of AQIM but left after a falling-out with its leadership. | Last month, the group announced it had merged with AQIM. Belmokhtar, a one-eyed commander who fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s, was once a member of AQIM but left after a falling-out with its leadership. |
Belmokhtar has been declared dead many times, the latest by a US air strike on 14 June last year in Libya - according to Libyan authorities - but his death has not been formally confirmed. | Belmokhtar has been declared dead many times, the latest by a US air strike on 14 June last year in Libya - according to Libyan authorities - but his death has not been formally confirmed. |
AQIM and al-Murabitoun said they were behind an attack on a hotel in Burkina Faso's neighbour Mali in November, that left 20 people dead. | AQIM and al-Murabitoun said they were behind an attack on a hotel in Burkina Faso's neighbour Mali in November, that left 20 people dead. |
Burkina Faso had recently held its first presidential election since a coup earlier last year. | Burkina Faso had recently held its first presidential election since a coup earlier last year. |
That coup toppled long-time leader Blaise Compaore, who had governed for 27 years. | That coup toppled long-time leader Blaise Compaore, who had governed for 27 years. |
"We are still in a context of political fragility, so I think the timing of this attack is meaningful," Cynthia Ohayon, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, told the BBC from Ouagadougou. | "We are still in a context of political fragility, so I think the timing of this attack is meaningful," Cynthia Ohayon, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, told the BBC from Ouagadougou. |
"The country has long borders with Mali and Niger, and we know there are armed groups present on the border, so this was probably something we had coming." | "The country has long borders with Mali and Niger, and we know there are armed groups present on the border, so this was probably something we had coming." |
In November, an AQIM attack on a hotel in the Malian capital Bamako left 19 people dead. | |
Are you in the area? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you in the area? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |