More than 30 hostages, including government minister freed from Burkina Faso hotel

About 300 people are believed to be inside the hotel.

Over 20 people are feared killed and an unknown number of hostages taken in an attack on a restaurant and hotel in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.

Security forces in the early hours of Saturday began an assault to reclaim the Splendid Hotel and entered its lobby, part of which was on fire, witnesses said.

Diallo Ismael, a human rights activist, said that about 300 people are believed to be inside the hotel.

The interior ministry said that fire brigade has found around 10 bodies on terrace of restaurant opposite the hotel.

French forces also arrived in Ouagadougou from neighbouring Mali to aid the effort, Associated Press news agency reported.

Thirty-three hostages, including a government minister, were freed from the besieged hotel, the country's communications minister told Reuters news agency.

The director of the capital city's university hospital said they were treating 15 people, some with bullet wounds.

Earlier, Olympia de Maismont, a local reporter, told Al Jazeera that police confirmed that there were hostages in the Splendid Hotel, and she said the military had surrounded the building following reports of gunfire and explosions.

The attack, she added, happened around 8pm local time on Friday.
  aljazeera.com
 16/1/16