Mali hotel siege ends, hostages rescued

(Baonghean.vn) - A spokesman for the Malian Defense Ministry said that the country's special forces, backed by French troops, ended the siege of a hotel in central Mali early on August 8, rescuing four hostages being held there.

Malian soldiers patrol the town of Sevare. Photo: EPA

"It seems that everything ended well. We rescued four hostages, but unfortunately we also found three bodies at the scene," said Colonel Diaran Kone. He did not give the nationalities of the rescued hostages or those killed.

Ukraine and Russia have previously said their citizens were among the hostages. Russian news agencies on Saturday quoted a press attaché at Moscow's embassy in Mali as saying a Russian hostage who worked for the airline UTair was among those rescued. Malian military officials said South African and French citizens were also believed to be staying at the hotel at the time.

Gunmen attacked the Byblos Hotel in the central Malian city of Sevare, about 600 km (400 miles) northeast of the capital Bamako, on Friday, where United Nations staff often stay. They killed at least six people, including five government soldiers and one UN mission member. Three attackers were also killed.

The attack is believed to have been carried out by Islamist militants linked to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network, who are stepping up a campaign against the Malian army and UN personnel.

Phuong Thao (According to Reuters)