VIDEO: 'At least 27 dead' as hostages rescued from Mali hotel siege

Latest: There are no more hostages left in the luxury hotel attacked by gunmen in Mali, according to state TV. Twenty-seven people are reported to be dead.

There are no more hostages left in the luxury hotel attacked by gunmen in Mali, according to state TV, 27 people are reported to be dead.

Malian special forces earlier entered the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako and freed scores of people, according to a military spokesman.

National broadcaster ORTM, citing security officials, said 18 bodies had already been found at the hotel and that no more hostages were being held.

A source with Mali’s UN mission said at least 12 bodies had been recovered.

It was not immediately clear whether any attackers were still alive inside the hotel. Gunfire continued into the late afternoon, and Mr Traore said operations were continuing.

Reuters News Agency quoted a Mali security ministry spokesman as stating that Mali special forces still trying to dislodge gunmen from upper floors of the hotel.

There is no indication that any Irish people are caught up in the attack.

Belgian government official Geoffrey Dieudonné was identified as being among those dead, according to Agence France-Presse.

Colonel Mark R Cheadle, spokesman for the US Africa Command said earlier that at least six Americans have been evacuated from the hotel.

Col Cheadle said American military forces stationed in Mali are helping to secure the scene of the attack.

US President Barack Obama said he was monitoring the situation.

Security forces help a hostage to safety

He said American military personnel “have helped move civilians to secure locations as Malian forces work to clear the hotel of hostile gunmen”.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said Americans “might be present at the hotel”, and that the US embassy in Bamako is working to verify this.

Security force personnel escort people fleeing from the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali today. Pictures: AP

Army commander Modibo Nama Traore said earlier that 10 gunmen stormed the hotel shouting “Allahu Akbar” – “God is great” in Arabic – before firing on the guards and taking hostages.

An extremist group that two years ago split from al Qaida’s North Africa branch claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group, led by Moktar Belmoktar, said it wanted fighters freed from Mali’s prisons and for attacks against northern Malians to stop.

The jihadist group, known as the Mourabitounes, was formed in 2013 after Belmoktar left al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and fused with a Malian militant group.

The statement said the Mourabitounes attacked in co-ordination with the “Sahara Emirate” affiliated with al Qaida.

French President Francois Hollande said France is ready to help Mali with all means necessary.

He urged all French citizens in Mali to make contact with the French embassy “in order that everything is made to offer them protection”.

Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita cut short his trip to Chad where he was attending a meeting of regional leaders.