Mali declares state of emergency

A 10-day state of emergency has been declared in Mali after the attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, the country’s capital.

Twenty-seven people sustained injuries in the incident, which al-Murabitoun, an Al-Qaeda affiliate group, has claimed responsibility for.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has also announced three days of mourning.

Some gunmen beat security checks at the hotel through using a diplomatic vehicle.

They held 170 people, comprising 130 guests and 30 staff of the hotel, hostage until security forces stormed the hotel to set the captives free.

Twelve members of Air France flight crew who were in the building, were extracted safely, according to the French national carrier.

But an American, one Belgian, some citizens of China and Algeria were not so lucky as they were killed in the incident.

The hostage lasted for about four hours.

President Francois Hollande of France has offered to help Mali, a former colony of France.

“I have assured Malian President Ibrahim Keita that France is available to offer the necessary support to the forces of his country,” he had said shortly after the incident.

“We have to, once again, keep going and show our solidarity with a country that is a friend, Mali.”

France intervened in the country in January 2013, when al-Qaeda-linked militants threatened to march on Bamako after taking control of the north of the country.

The UN force in Mali took over responsibility for security in the country from French and African troops in July 2013, after the main towns in the north had been recaptured from the militants.

Thirteen people, including five UN workers, during a hostage siege at a hotel in the central Malian town of Sevare, in August.