Mali hotel hostages freed, 2 gunmen killed

Gunmen who stormed a luxury hotel in Mali’s capital Friday and seized more than 100 guests and staff no longer have any hostages after a rescue operation by special forces, the government said.
“They currently have no more hostages in their hands and forces are in the process of tracking them down,” security minister Salif Traore told a news conference following a stand-off of several hours at Bamako’s Radisson Blu.
Earlier it was reported that the bodies of 18 people were recovered as special forces stormed the hotel.
“Eighteen bodies were found,” the source said, adding that French special forces from neighbouring Burkina Faso were in the hotel and “participating in operations alongside Malians”.

Source: World Bulletin