At least 19 people were killed in the attack on luxury hotel Radisson Blu in the Malian capital of Bamako on Friday. The attack, claimed by jihadist group Al Mourabitoun and al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, ended after Malian commandos stormed the building and rescued 170 people, many of them foreigners. Twenty Indians who were in the hotel were safely evacuated on Friday, the external affairs ministry had announced.

"Tonight, the death toll is heavy," President Keita said, declaring a 10-day state of emergency and three days of national mourning, adding that two militants had died. Reuters reported that UN officials counted 27 bodies in the hotel while assisting Malian state authorities. The numbers are yet to be confirmed. Friday's assault on the Radisson Blu is the latest in a series of deadly attacks on high-profile targets in Mali this year.

Islamist groups have continued to wage attacks in the West African nation despite a peace deal signed in June between rebels in the north of the country and pro-government forces, reported AFP. In August, suspected Islamist gunmen had killed 13 people, including five UN workers, during a hostage siege at a hotel in Mali.