A total of 140 guests and 30 employees have been taken hostage by jihadist gunmen at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Malian capital Bamako.
At least three are feared to have been killed as the 10 gunmen stormed the hotel, the second such attack on a hotel in Mali since August. It has been confirmed by sources that French and Chinese tourists are among the hostages.
The hotel lies just west of the city centre near government ministries and diplomatic offices and is a popular site with foreign visitors.
The Rezidor Hotel Group, operator of the Radisson Blu Hotel Bamako released a statement on the situation, confirming 30 staff are among the hostages.
"Our safety & security teams and our corporate team are in constant contact with the local authorities in order offer any support possible to re-instate safety and security at the hotel. At this point we do not have further information and continue to closely monitor the situation," read the statement.
