Gunmen storm tourist resort in Mali, take hostages

An armored vehicle drives towards Le Campement Kangaba resort following an attack where gunmen stormed the resort in Dougourakoro, to the east of the capital Bamako, Mali in this still frame taken from video June 18, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Four gunmen have been killed after they attacked a tourist resort in Mali frequented by Westerners, the country's security minister says.

“We have recovered the bodies of two attackers who were killed", Salif Traore said on Sunday, adding that police were "searching for the bodies of two others."

“Malian Special Forces intervened and hostages have been released," he added. "Unfortunately for the moment there are two dead, including a Franco-Gabonese," he noted.

Traore made the announcement after a firefight broke out between government troops and gunmen, who entered luxury resort Le Campement Kangaba, east of the capital Bamako.

“One of the terrorists was able to escape, after being injured," he noted.

The security ministry added that two people had been injured in the skirmish, while 36 guests and hotel staff were rescued.