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Saturday, January 16, 2016

New Assault After 30 Killed In Burkina Attacks

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.
As security minister Simon Compaore announced troops, supported by French military, had retaken the buildings, he said another operation was under way at the Yibi Hotel.
Security officers take their positions outside the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou.
"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.
He added that three of the attackers were dead.
"Three jihadists - an Arab and two black Africans - have been killed," he said.
Ten bodies were seen on the terrace of the Cappuccino restaurant, while at least 20 people were understood to have been killed in the four-star Splendid Hotel, which is popular with Westerners and UN staff.
Of the 126 hostages freed, 33 were wounded.
Al Qaeda of Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility for the attacks, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
The gun launched the assault on the hotel and restaurant around 8.30pm local time on Friday.
They fired into the air to drive back crowds and torched vehicles, witnesses said.
Vital Nounayon, a waiter at a nearby restaurant, told Reuters: "Lots of people left their cars and motorcycles and ran... (The attackers) also fired on the Cappuccino Cafe across from the hotel before setting it on fire."
said the attackers were wearing turbans.
Security forces arrived a short time later, prompting an intense exchange of gunfire.
Another witness, who only gave his first name, Gilbert, said security forces initially turned around rather than confront the attackers.
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 Roch Marc 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.

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