Deadly Attacks In Burkina Faso
More than 126 hostages are freed from a hotel and restaurant as security operations continue at a second hotel nearby.
Security forces freed at least 126 hostages around 12 hours after gunmen attacked the Splendid Hotel and the Cappuccino Cafe across the road in the capital Ouagadougou.
The West African nation's new president, Roch Marc Kabore, confirmed 23 people had died, while four militants were killed.
He said two of the attackers were women. It was earlier reported that 30 people had been killed.
As security minister Simon Compaore announced troops, supported by the French military, had retaken the buildings, he said another operation was under way at the Yibi Hotel.
"The attacks on the Splendid Hotel and the Cappuccino are over. But an assault is ongoing at the Hotel Yibi," he told AFP news agency.
Of the 126 hostages freed, 33 were wounded, Mr Compaore said.
Al Qaeda of Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
The gunmen launched the assault on the hotel and restaurant, both popular with Westerners and UN staff, around 8.30pm local time on Friday.
"The attacks on the Splendid Hotel and the Cappuccino are over. But an assault is ongoing at the Hotel Yibi," he told AFP news agency.
Of the 126 hostages freed, 33 were wounded, Mr Compaore said.
Al Qaeda of Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
The gunmen launched the assault on the hotel and restaurant, both popular with Westerners and UN staff, around 8.30pm local time on Friday.
They fired into the air to drive back crowds and torched vehicles, witnesses said.
A woman who survived the Cappuccino restaurant attack told how she had to "play dead".
"We had just placed our meal orders in Cafe Cappuccino and around 15 minutes later we heard gunshots," she told the Associated Press, from hospital.
"They started to shoot at everyone. We dropped to the ground and as soon as anyone raised their heads they fired at them immediately. We had to play dead.
"They shook people by the foot to see if they were alive or not, and, if they were alive, they shot them.
"They were shooting on the ground floor and then went upstairs and shot downwards as well, and continued shooting.
"When they went upstairs they set the place on fire and left via the roof.
"The room was completely on fire and it was impossible to breathe.
"It was difficult and even in the smoke as soon as you tried to escape through the door they were there and started shooting immediately."
Robert Sangare, the head of Yalgado Ouedraogo hospital in the city, told the AFP news agency that one European woman who was taken to his hospital said the gunmen appeared to target white people.
Dozens of French forces arrived overnight from neighbouring Mali to help.
A US defence official said one US military member is providing "advice and assistance" to French forces.
Burkina Faso's new government, appointed on Wednesday after the election of President Kabore in November, was due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday.
Burkina Faso, a largely Muslim country, has endured bouts of political turmoil since 2014 when veteran president Blaise Compaore was overthrown in a popular protest.
But the landlocked country has been largely spared violence by Islamist militants who have staged attacks in neighbouring Mali.
AQIM was behind a similar attack that left 20 dead at a luxury hotel in the Malian capital in November.
Source: Sky news
