Army: 3 confirmed dead in attack on Mali hotel in capital

President Xi Jinping on Saturday strongly condemned the attack on Friday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, which killed 27 people, including three Chinese nationals. Belmokhtar’s death has been reported a couple of times, though never confirmed. In August, they stormed a hotel in central Mali, killing at least 12 people.

Traore credited Malian security forces for their quick response which he said limited the number of fatalities. He said the assailants were “determined to die” regardless of the security measures in place.

The attack may have been motivated by a desire to disrupt a fragile local peace process that has made progress in recent months, Jean-Herve Jezequel, an analyst for the global Crisis Group, said in an interview posted to the group’s website Friday night.

Malian troops take position outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015.

INVESTIGATORS in Mali are hunting at least three people suspected of links to the jihadist siege at a luxury hotel in the capital that left at least 19 people dead.

The timing suggested a well-planned operation that analysts say could be an attempt by al Qaida to reassert its relevance amid high-profile attacks by its rival group, Islamic State (IS). “I said that the value of life is unknown to them, and that’s why you, just like us, and everyone, must be careful”, he said. It was reported that as the siege dragged on, hostages started to trickle as security forces worked to secure the hotel floor by floor.

A police source said a few hostages were released after they proved they were Muslims by reciting verses from the Koran. A witness outside the hotel said gunfire could be heard from time to time. One of those killed was an American citizen, the US State Department said without providing additional details.

Mali’s President cut short a visit to Chad and declared a 10-day state of emergency while French President Francois Hollande said France would “yet again stand firm and show our solidarity” with its former colony, promising to send extra troops to boost the 1,000 now there.

A Malian intelligence agent said a total of 13 foreigners were killed, including six Russians, three Chinese, two Belgians, an American and a Senegalese. Keita had been in Chad on Friday for a security summit.

The country was plunged into violence after a military coup in March 2012 left a power vacuum that allowed Islamist militants to join with separatists and seize the north of the country.