Chinese president condemns Mali hotel attack

Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita said that 19 people became victims of the attack and also seven were injured.

Although Malian special forces have moved into the hotel, the siege continues.

State television said 80 hostages had been freed but the French newspaper Le Monde quoted the Malian security ministry as saying at least three people had been killed in the initial attack.

“China expresses indignation at and strongly condemns this atrocity”, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said.

“China will strengthen cooperation with the global community, resolutely crack down on violent terrorist operations that devastate innocent lives and safeguard world peace and security”, Xi said.

Belmoktar, an Algerian militant and former al-Qaida commander who has always been based in the Sahara, shot to prominence after his group carried out a January 2013 attack on an Algerian gas plant that resulted in the death of 39 foreign workers.

The attack killed 21 people, including 18 hotel clients, one member of the special forces and 2 terrorists.

At least 10 gunmen raided the hotel, shooting at guests and staff before taking a few 170 people hostage.

Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande said the assault illustrated the need for France to “once again” show its solidarity with the West African country, though stopping short of linking the tragedy with attacks in Paris claimed by the “Islamic State” militant group. It was reported that as the siege dragged on, hostages started to trickle as security forces worked to secure the hotel floor by floor. He said a three-day period of national mourning was due to begin on Monday, with flags flying at half-mast.

Northern Mali has been unstable since it fell to Tuareg separatists and Islamic extremists following a military coup in 2012.

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.

In March masked gunmen shot up a Bamako restaurant popular with foreigners, killing five people.