Mali hotel attack: '170 hostages seized' in Bamako http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-34877069 Security forces exchanging fire with attackers. 12-13pm -have been extracted now. Gunmen shouted Allahu Akbar as they entered the hotel. Govt here monitoring things closely. 140 Guests 30 staff hostage. It must be hell as fighting ongoing.11-48 am Two hostages who could recite Koran released. Special forces are entering hotel and have managed to release some hostages Unclear how deep they have entered. Ongoing situation. LIVEAfrica Live: 'Hostage taking' in Mali capital BBC News coverage of Mali attacks This page automatically updates 170 people 'taken hostage' in Mali hotel Malian special forces 'storming hotel' Three people said to have been killed Hotel says there are two attackers French, Chinese and Turkish citizens in hotel A obvious target Security and intelligence some saying are weak. Pictures emerging of security and special forces in the hotel.Clear some are dead 11-56 am 80 hostages freed. Attackers going from room to room. Attackers rammed security barriers.Talk of the car having Diplomatic Plates. Nobody clear how many attackers 2-4 up to 10 being mentioned. Floors being cleared one by one.Sporadic gunfire. Rumours they have escaped. French Troops providing logistics.And i believe are there.But unclear of this. 3 hostages dead. Mali a deeply unstable country.It is reported. 110 people whether freed by forces or escaped themselves is now being reported. Leaving perhaps 60 or so left. Rumours the attackers were speaking English.Not confirmed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-34815762 17:47 Thomas Fessy has been reporting from outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali. He says that: "It took seven hours from the beginning of the attack to get all the guests out of the hotel an hour ago, and now the area is totally cordoned off. "But the big question is how many attackers were there - we've heard between two to a dozen. "This is all still unclear." Rescued hostages were led away from the hotel by Malian security forces: Catch up and live coverage. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-34815762 CNBC Now 20m20 minutes ago THE LATEST: -DJ reports Mali hostage situation is over, 27 dead including 5 attackers -Pres. Obama monitoring events A fluent situation.Hard to get 100% facts.And live coverage. UNITED NATIONS United Nations peacekeepers saw some 27 bodies on two separate floors of a luxury hotel in Mali's capital Bamako that was attacked on Friday, a U.N. official told Reuters, citing preliminary information. The peacekeepers saw 12 corpses in the basement of the hotel and another 15 on the second floor, the official said on condition of anonymity. He added that the U.N. troops were still helping Malian authorities search the Mali state television reports no more hostages held by Islamic State http://bigstory.ap.org/urn:publicid:ap.org:4debb9d37ce1415994f0c96b2f05a323 … Gunmen 'still holding out' Posted at 18:15 Mali's security ministry has told Reuters that gunmen are still holding out in the hotel they attacked early this morning: "The attackers no longer have hostages. They are dug in in the upper floors. They are alone with the Malian special forces who are trying to dislodge them," spokesman Amadou Sangho said. RAW: Authorities escort hostages out of Mali hotel http://www.kptv.com/clip/12018554/raw-authorities-escort-hostages-out-of-mali-hotel How did attackers get diplomatic plates? Posted at 18:32 Mali based French journalist François Rihouay told BBC World news a big unanswered question now is how the attackers got hold of a black 4x4 car with diplomatic number plates. The hotel gardener witnessed attackers enter the grounds of the hotel in a car with a diplomatic license plate. UN Chief Says Mali Peace Plan Must Stay on Track http://dlvr.it/CnxTFT Two militant groups say jointly responsible for Mali attack | Reuters: BAMAKO Islami... http://bit.ly/1OW3IGG U.S. Military Played No Direct Role in Mali Crisis, Official Says http://nyti.ms/1kLh6Rc Well that has now changed. 1 US CITIZEN KILLED IN MALI HOTEL ATTACK, SENIOR STATE DEPT. OFFICIAL SAYS Family of American killed in Mali attack releases photo of 41-year-old New Jersey native http://abc7.la/1XfydGv