BAMAKO, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people, including five soldiers, two civilians and one UN staff, have been killed after unknown militants on Friday attacked a hotel in central Mali, Malian officials said Saturday.
Four hostages have been freed from the Byblos hotel used by UN staff, according to the Directorate of Information and Public Affairs of the Malian Army, adding that four militants were also killed in the raid.
Radhia Achour, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA, confirmed that the released hostages were UN contractors -- two South Africans, one Russian and one Ukrainian.
Choguel Kokala Maiga, spokesperson of the Malian government, said the Malian troops are searching for surrounding buildings of the hotel in order to capture fleeing militants.
Maiga said the identities of the attackers have not been confirmed.
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UN chief slams deadly attack in central Mali
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Saturday condemned an attack in Sevare, a town in central Mali, which led to killings of 13 people, including at least one United Nations contractor, while urging all the Malian people to " remain united in their pursuit of a just and sustainable peace." Full story
S. Africa confirms killing of citizen in Mali
CAPE TOWN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- South African authorities on Saturday confirmed that a SA citizen has been killed during a attack by unknown militants in central Mali.
The SA embassy in Mali has confirmed that a 38-year-old man from Pretoria was shot dead by militants in a hostage situation at a Mali hotel, said Nelson Kgwete, spokesperson of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). Full story
S. African citizens trapped in Mali after hotel attack
CAPE TOWN, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- An unidentified number of South African citizens have been trapped in Mali after gunmen attacked a hotel frequented by foreigners in the town of Sevare, authorities confirmed on Friday.
Among the hostages are some South African citizens, according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). Full story
