PARIS, April 19 (Xinhuanet) -- A woman detained Monday for questioning over the Paris hotel fire has admitted to "accidentally" starting the blaze that has killed 23 people, half of them children, French police said Tuesday.

    It was "an accidental fire," Paris police chief Pierre Mutz said.

    The woman, who was not identified by name, was the girlfriend of one of the watchmen of the Paris-Opera hotel.

    The woman was among the people held Monday morning for questioning because she had been at the scene shortly before the fire, in which about 50 people were also injured and 27 people arestill in hospital for treatment Tuesday.

    The victims include US, Portuguese, Senegalese, Ivorian, Tunisian and Ukrainian citizens. Enditem