At least 20 people have died and some taken hostage whenIslamist gunmen stormed a hotel in the capital city of Burkina Faso on Friday, anattack al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) have claimed.
Security forces began an assault to reclaim the SplendidHotel in the early hours of Saturday and entered its lobby, part of which wason fire, a Reuters witness said. The hotel is frequented by Westerners, whichmay have made it a target for the militants.
About 30 hostages including the labor minister were freedfrom the hotel, said Minister of Communications Remis Dandjinou. No one hassaid publicly how many hostages might be in the hotel.
It was the first time militants have carried out an assaultin the capital of Burkina Faso and comes as a setback to efforts by Africangovernments, France and the United States to prevent attacks that havedestabilized the region.
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January 16, 2016
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