This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/15/security-forces-battle-suspected-jihadists-in-burkina-faso-capital

The article has changed 34 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Security forces battle suspected jihadis in Burkina Faso capital Security forces battle suspected jihadis in Burkina Faso capital
(35 minutes later)
Gunfire and explosions have erupted in Burkina Faso’s capital as security forces battled suspected Islamist fighters outside one of Ouagadougou’s main hotels.Gunfire and explosions have erupted in Burkina Faso’s capital as security forces battled suspected Islamist fighters outside one of Ouagadougou’s main hotels.
Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the the four-storey Splendid hotel, burning cars outside and firing in the air to drive back crowds before security forces arrived, prompting an intense exchange of gunfire.Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the the four-storey Splendid hotel, burning cars outside and firing in the air to drive back crowds before security forces arrived, prompting an intense exchange of gunfire.
One witness told Associated Press that he saw four men attack the hotel and neighbouring Cappuccino Cafe at around 7.30 pm local time. Another witness said that when security forces first arrived, they turned around rather than confront the attackers.
“But we know that the gunmen won’t get out of the hotel alive,” he said. “Our country is not for jihadists or terrorists. They got it wrong.”
The hotel is sometimes used by French troops with Operation Barkhane, a force based in Chad and set up to combat Islamist militants across Africa’s vast, arid Sahel region.
Asking not to be named, a senior official with the national gendarmes said: “It is continuing at this time. We are trying to know how many attackers they are to better coordinate our actions. Hostages have been taken. The operation could take several hours.”
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack, though jihadis have attacked hotels before in neighbouring Mali, including an assault on the Radisson Blu hotel in November that left 20 people dead.It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack, though jihadis have attacked hotels before in neighbouring Mali, including an assault on the Radisson Blu hotel in November that left 20 people dead.
The US embassy in Ouagadougou tweeted: “We are closely following the situation downtown.”The US embassy in Ouagadougou tweeted: “We are closely following the situation downtown.”
While Burkina Faso has largely been spared the violence wracked by Islamic extremist groups in Mali, a Romanian national was abducted last April. While Burkina Faso has largely been spared the violence brought by Islamic extremist groups in Mali, a Romanian national was abducted last April.
The Cappuccino cafe-restaurant opposite the hotel, which is also popular with westerners, had also been targeted, said a witness who spoke to AFP.