Gunmen Attack Hotel in Mali’s Bamako, Take Hostages

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday condemned the “cruel and savage” attack by Islamist militants on a hotel in Mali’s capital that killed 19 people, including three Chinese executives of a state-run railway firm.

According to AFP, at least 27 people have been killed in the attack, which occurred on Friday when armed gunmen entered the up-scale Radisson Blu hotel taking over 100 people hostage.

The foreign victims included Russian, Chinese, Belgian, an American and a Senegalese nationals.

In August, supposed Islamist gunmen killed 13 people, including five United Nations workers, within a hostage siege in a resort in Sevare’s central Malian town.

Security remained tight around the Radisson and other hotels in Bamako and was also boosted at public buildings and banks.

As the siege dragged on Friday, hostages trickled out slowly as security forces worked to secure the hotel floor by floor. The ministry said was still looking into the reported death of an additional Israeli national.

President of Mali Boubacar Keita declared three days of mourning and assured that the country would “do everything to eradicate terrorism”.

The source added that the hotel “is now totally under control” following the nine-hour attack, which was claimed by Al-Qaeda affiliate the Al-Murabitoun group and ended after Malian and global troops stormed the complex.

French Defence Minister Jean- Yves Le Drian said Belmokhtar, one of the world’s most-wanted men, was indeed likely the brains behind the assault.

Army Cmdr. Modibo Nama Traore said late Friday that 20 people had been killed, including an official with Mali’s gendarmerie.

Northern Mali has been unstable since falling to Islamists and Tuareg separatists in 2012, after a military coup.

The UN Security Council on Friday authorized countries to “take all necessary measures” to fight the Islamic State group in a resolution that won unanimous backing a week after the Paris attacks…