Post by pavel on Jan 15, 2016 22:47:06 GMT -6
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) -- Burkina Faso's communications minister says about 30 hostages have been freed from the upscale hotel that was seized more than nine hours earlier by al-Qaida militants.
Minister Remis Dandjinou said early Saturday that among those evacuated from the Splendid Hotel was Public Works Minister Clement Sawadogo.
The hostages were freed by Burkina Faso security forces backed by French troops who are trying to secure the four-story hotel. An unknown number of hostages remain inside.
It was not immediately known how many people may have been killed during the siege, though one survivor estimated as many as 20 people were dead inside, according to hospital officials.
Read more: hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_BURKINA_FASO_HOTEL_ATTACK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-15-23-42-48
Minister Remis Dandjinou said early Saturday that among those evacuated from the Splendid Hotel was Public Works Minister Clement Sawadogo.
The hostages were freed by Burkina Faso security forces backed by French troops who are trying to secure the four-story hotel. An unknown number of hostages remain inside.
It was not immediately known how many people may have been killed during the siege, though one survivor estimated as many as 20 people were dead inside, according to hospital officials.
Read more: hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_BURKINA_FASO_HOTEL_ATTACK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-15-23-42-48