As reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA) the situation is under special control of the MFA.
"According to the Ukrainian Embassy in Algiers, an anti-terrorist operation was conducted in Sevare (Mali). Byblos Hotel was surrounded by the militants, mobile communications were disabled," as said in a statement.
The Ministry noted that the Ukrainian diplomatic mission keeps a constant contact with the competent authorities of Mali. "Right now we are trying to find the personal data of hostages and, possibly, citizen of Ukraine stays among them," highlighted in a statement.
Two South Africans, one Ukrainian and one Russian tourists were said to have been freed after being trapped inside the hotel, siege started at around 7am (07:00 GMT) on Friday. Security forces of Mali have stormed a hotel in Sevare, what resulted into a deadly siege and freeing several hostages.
The northern part of Mali is controlled by the separatists, so the UN peacekeepers are sent there to carry the mission. This delegaion includes more than 11 thousand soldiers, counting reservists, and about 1.5 thousand police officers, 4 thousand French troops.
The crisis in Mali has become a consequence of the 2011 changing the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, when ethnic Tuaregs launch rebellion after returning with arms from Libya. They occupied the northern part of Mali, and proclaimed an independent state of Azawad. Later, Tuaregs were chased by the extremists.
