Mali: security tightened as situation of emergency declared

Al-Mourabitoun, an al Qaeda-linked militant group in northern Mali, claimed responsibility for the hostage situation at the luxury hotel on social media Friday.

“Belmoktar may want to revive the alliance with al-Qaida maybe to reassert their position because they have lost a lot”, he said. He expressed solidarity with the affected countries whose nationals were killed in Mali.

Keita announced a 10-day nationwide state of emergency beginning Friday at midnight.

The three Chinese people killed were executives with China’s state-owned China Railway Construction Corp, the company said in a statement on its website.

Malian television broadcast chaotic scenes from inside the hotel as police and other security personnel ushered bewildered and terrified guests along corridors and across the main lobby.

Security sources said the gunmen were jihadists who had entered the hotel compound at around 0700 GMT (2000 AEDT) in a auto that had diplomatic plates.

About 170 guests and employees were initially taken hostage, but a few apparently escaped or hid in the sprawling, cream-and-pink hotel that has 190 rooms and a spa, outdoor pool and ballroom.

Corey-Boulet reported from Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

One of the freed hostages, a singer from Guinea, said he heard attackers in the next room speaking English.

There is as yet no established link with the attacks in Paris one week ago that killed 130 people.

Traore credited Malian security forces for their quick response which he said limited the number of fatalities.

Representatives for US Africa Command said American military personnel were helping move civilians to safety as Malian forces cleared the Radisson Blu.

In 2013, French forces managed to reverse the takeover of much of Mali by Islamist militants.

“They’ve penetrated inside the hotel”. Witnesses have also suggested the death toll may be much higher.

Earlier reports suggested that at least 27 people were killed.

The family of Shmuel Ben Halal, a 60-year-old Israeli who worked as an educational adviser for Mali’s government, said he died as well.

Throughout the siege, officials in various countries from Europe to Asia sought to find out whether their citizens staying at the hotel were safe. Under al-Zawahri, local Al Qaeda affiliates have sought to exploit post-Arab Spring chaos by allying with other insurgents and tribes, and by cultivating local support in places like Syria and Yemen, where they provide social services.

Twelve Air France (AIRF.PA) flight crew were in the building but all were extracted safely, the French national carrier said.