Mali hotel siege: As it happened

UN peacekeepers saw 27 bodies at Mali hotel, UN official.

No more hostages in hotel siege, 18 bodies found so far.

Belgian diplomat Geoffrey Dieudonne among those killed in the Mali gun attack, officials confirm.

Gunmen in the Radisson hotel are no longer holding any hostages, Malian official tells local television.

The Reuters news agency is reporting that the jihadist group al-Murabitoun has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital, Bamako.

It made the announcement on its Twitter account, Reuters says, but the claim could not be verified.

Al-Murabitoun is made up of two groups which broke away from a North African branch of al-Qaeda.

The heads of state from the G5 Sahel group - made up of Mali, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania - who are meeting in Chad's capital N'Djamena have expressed their condolences and solidarity with the people of Mali.

US special forces help rescue "at least six" Americans in Mali: US official.

All 20 Indians in the hotel in Bamako have been safely evacuated. Our Ambassador in Mali has confirmed.

Pictures show hostages fleeing to safety from Mali hotel; 138 people still inside.

Pictures show hostages fleeing to safety from #Mali hotel; 138 people still inside https://t.co/uwLmeVlryb pic.twitter.com/2CBC4HJlG7

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) November 20, 2015

124 guests, 13 staff still inside Radisson Blue hotel in Bamako following gun attack, says hotel company.

Footage shows police, soldiers outside Mali hotel that was attacked by gunmen:

VIDEO: Footage shows police, soldiers outside Mali hotel that was attacked by gunmen: https://t.co/lgYw73RERH

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 20, 2015

US special forces helping to move people to safety in Bamako as Malian forces clear hotel of gunmen.

Also Read: Mali terror attack: Army confirms three dead, 20 Indians trapped inside Radisson Blu

Four trapped Chinese nationals in the hotel have been rescued.

Local radio station Mikado FM has tweeted a picture of a UN ambulance, which it says is ready to evacuate 20 hostages who have been rescued from the hotel. 

All 12 Air France crew who were caught up in the siege at the Radisson Hotel in Bamako have escaped and are safe, according to a tweet from the French airline. The group rescued was made up of two pilots and 10 cabin crew, according to the statement.

'Mali attackers spoke English', says witness. A report said that a hostage who was freed from the Radisson Blu in Mali's capital, Bamako, says that he heard the attackers were speaking English.

Twenty Indians are reportedly trapped inside the hotel but are safe. According to a report, they work for an Indian business group based in Dubai and have a permanent room in the hotel.

20 Indians in Bamako luxury hotel siege in Mali, says MEA.

#MaliAttack : Acc'g to current info there are 20 Indians staying in the hotel. Our Amb is continuously in touch with them & monitor'g sitn

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) November 20, 2015

The Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali, where gunmen have attacked and locked in guests and staff.

Malian troops stand guard outside the hotel.

Media reports said that the gunmen attacking the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Mali have released some hostages including those able to recite verses of the Koran.

The Radisson Blu hotel is to the west of the centre of Mali's capital, Bamako.

The 190 room hotel is advertised on the Radisson Blu website as an "upscale lodging" with a swimming pool and spa.

The hotel is American owned.

Pic courtesy: BBC/Google

Also Read: Gunmen hold 170 hostage at Mali hotel, three killed

The office of Mali's president is tweeting that the President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita - who is in neighbouring Chad - will be returning to Mali soon.

A witness in Mali's capital city, Bamako, suggests the attackers had diplomatic plates on their car.

"They have come this way while I was sweeping in the yard," said the hotel gardener.

"They were in car with a diplomatic license plate. They were masked. At the gate of the hotel, the guard stopped them and they started firing and we fled."

Also Read: Mali govt, rebels swap prisoners in bright spot for peace deal

A radical Islamist militant leader in Mali had called on his followers to target French interests in the country, according to BBC. 

Also Read: South African killed in Mali hotel siege: Foreign Ministry

Popular Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino is among those able to get out of the luxury hotel attacked in the capital Bamako. "I woke up with the sounds of gunshots and for me, it was just small bandits who came in the hotel to claim something.

"After 20 or 30 minutes, I realized these are not just petty criminals," he told journalists.

The Rezidor Hotel Group, the US-based parent company of Radisson Blu, said two people were holding 170 people hostage. Radisson Blu, an upscale brand of the Radisson hotel chain, has more than 230 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide.

French, Chinese and Turkish citizens in hotel.

Also Read: The spoils of peace undermining stability in Mali

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the incident.

The Radisson Blu hotel is about 15 minutes away from Bamako Senou International Airport.

Malian soldiers with help from UN troops surrounded the hotel.

The armed men came in a diplomatic vehicle earlier in the day, firing as they entered the hotel, said witness Amadou Keita, who works at a cultural centre nearby.

The victims comprised two Malian citizens and a French national, authorities said.

Mali army commander says about 20 hostages freed from Bamako hotel seized by gunmen.

Mali security forces storming besieged Bamako hotel: Minister.

At least three hostages killed in Bamako hotel siege: Minister.

Mali security forces evacuate around a dozen hostages from hotel: ministry.

At least seven Chinese hostages in Mali siege.

Turkish state media says 6 Turkish Airlines personnel are among hostages in Mali.

Hotel company says 170 hostages - 140 guests and 30 employees - taken in Radisson Blu attack in Mali.

Two people holding 170 guests, staff hostage in Bamako hotel: company.

Mali security forces escort two women from besieged Bamako hotel.

Gunmen seize 170 hostages at Radisson hotel in Mali capital Bamako.