Sevare

Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Bamako today, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking, the hotel chain said. At least three hostages have been killed, said Mali's security ministry.

French forces have taken control of the airport in Kidal, seizing a key position in one of three provincial capitals the Islamist militants took over last year, officials said on Wednesday. One Malian official said French troops even moved into the city, which was the last remaining urban stronghold of the Islamists in Mali.

Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Bamako today, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking, the hotel chain said. At least three hostages have been killed, said Mali's security ministry.

French forces have taken control of the airport in Kidal, seizing a key position in one of three provincial capitals the Islamist militants took over last year, officials said on Wednesday. One Malian official said French troops even moved into the city, which was the last remaining urban stronghold of the Islamists in Mali.