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Five foreigners have been evacuated and a "number" of hostages freed after they were trapped by gunmen in a hotel standoff with soldiers in central Mali that left at least seven people dead, military sources said early today.
"We can not say that everything is finished, but a number of hostages" were freed by Malian forces deployed around the Hotel Byblos in Sevare, a source told AFP.
Another military source said Malian Special Forces had rescued the hostages, including five foreigners "who were evacuated to Bamako". The source was unable to specify their nationalities.
The attackers had stormed the hotel, frequented by foreign visitors and troops, at around 7:00 a.m (0700 GMT) Friday, according to the government.
Malian forces cordoned off the area but their efforts against the gunmen were made "sensitive" by the presence of hostages, a military source said yesterday.
It was not clear how many people were still being held by the attackers. Part of the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSMA) was also staying in the hotel, the government said.
The government statement yesterday gave a provisional toll of "five dead, two injured" on the Malian army side and "two killed" on the insurgent side. Seven suspects had been detained, it added.
MINUSMA said a member of its associate international staff was killed in the "terrorist attack", without giving the victim's nationality. It was not clear if that death was included in the government toll.
The UN mission said it had sent a Malian rapid response team from the capital Bamako -- 620 kilometres (385 miles) to the south -- and "reinforced the security of Sevare-Mopti airport".
It said the initial target of the attack was a Malian military site.
"The attackers, who were repulsed by the Malian forces, then holed up in a hotel," a MINUSMA statement said.
"The clashes between the attackers and Malian security forces continued throughout the morning and sporadic fire continues at the hotel and in the neighbourhood," the statement added.
A military source had earlier said at least eight people had been killed with "three bodies lying in front of the hotel next to a burned-out minibus."
One of the attackers was wearing an explosives belt, the source said.
It is unclear who the foreigners who were being held are, though the governments of Russia and Ukraine confirmed earlier they each had a national among the hostages.
