Mali's government has declared a 10-day nationwide state of emergency following a bloody hostage drama that claimed the lives of over two-dozen people in the capital Bamako.
According to Press TV, the government also declared three days of national mourning.
The terror began when gunmen attacked the luxury Radisson Blu Hotel, taking nearly 170 guests and staff hostage.
The nine-hour siege ended after Special Forces staged a floor-by-floor rescue operation.
The UN peacekeeping force says 27 hostages and two terrorists were killed in the fighting.
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has put the death toll of hostages at 19.
A US State Department official has confirmed that at least one US citizen was among the victims.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called the assault a horrific terrorist attack.
Al-Mourabitoun terrorist group and al-Qaeda’s Affiliate in West Africa, AQIM, have jointly claimed responsibility for the attack.
source : irib
