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Mali hotel siege: Gunmen take hostages in deadly raid Mali hotel siege: Gunmen take hostages in deadly raid
(35 minutes later)
At least eight people have been killed in the town of Sevare in central Mali after gunmen attacked a hotel, officials say. Gunmen in Mali have killed at least five people in an attack on a hotel in the central town of Severe, officials say. The dead include Malian soldiers.
The army said the dead included at least three soldiers and two gunmen. An unknown number of hostages are still being held at the Byblos Hotel. The UN mission in the country said it believed "a member of the international personnel" was killed in the attack.
Russia and Ukraine have each said that one of their citizens was being held in the siege. An unknown number of hostages are still being held at the Byblos Hotel, which is popular with UN workers. Two of the gunmen have also been killed.
Mali has been fighting Islamist rebels in the north for a number of years.Mali has been fighting Islamist rebels in the north for a number of years.
Army spokesman Lt Col Diarran Kone told the Associated Press that the operation to free hostages was ongoing.
The BBC's Alex Duval Smith in Mali says the town, which is about 600km (370 miles) north-east of the capital, Bamako, is a trading hub that serves the historic riverside city of Mopti.
There are several hotels near each other in the town that are popular with UN workers and those working for non-governmental organisations, she says.
A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Mali said one of those being held was a Russian citizen. Earlier, officials in Kiev said a Ukrainian citizen was also believed to have been captured.A spokesman for the Russian embassy in Mali said one of those being held was a Russian citizen. Earlier, officials in Kiev said a Ukrainian citizen was also believed to have been captured.
The BBC has learned that guests from France, South Africa and Ukraine are registered at the hotels. Army spokesman Lt Col Diarran Kone told Associated Press that the operation to free hostages was ongoing.
UN spokeswoman Radhia Achouri refused to say whether any UN members of staff had been affected or were being held hostage in the Byblos Hotel. In a statement, the UN mission in Mali (Minusma) condemned the "despicable attack in the strongest terms".
The mission said "shots continue to be fired sporadically at the hotel and in its vicinity".
The BBC's Alex Duval Smith in Mali says the town, which is about 600km (370 miles) north-east of the capital, Bamako, is a trading hub that serves the historic riverside city of Mopti.
A local resident told the BBC that it was the first time the city has been hit by an attack like this.A local resident told the BBC that it was the first time the city has been hit by an attack like this.
"Since the beginning of the fighting in Mali, we haven't experienced such a situation in Sevare."Since the beginning of the fighting in Mali, we haven't experienced such a situation in Sevare.
"We would expect these things to happen in Gao or Timbuktu, but this the first time it has happened in Sevare," he said."We would expect these things to happen in Gao or Timbuktu, but this the first time it has happened in Sevare," he said.
Al-Qaeda-linked militants have been fighting the army in northern Mali.Al-Qaeda-linked militants have been fighting the army in northern Mali.
France, the former colonial power in Mali, intervened in January 2013 to stop their advance south to the capital.France, the former colonial power in Mali, intervened in January 2013 to stop their advance south to the capital.
Militancy in MaliMilitancy in Mali