At least 20 people have been killed and other were being hostage in an ongoing terrorist attack on a hotel in the capital of Burkina Faso popular with United Nations staff and westerners.
A fire erupted in the main entrance of Ouagadougou’s four-star Splendid hotel and screams could be heard from inside.
Forces prepared an assault to rescue hostages still trapped five hours after the assault began.
Officials said French forces could join a counter-attack on the hotel, while a US defence official said Washington would potentially provide surveillance.
The attack comes less than two months after a jihadist hostage siege at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in the Malian capital Bamako in November, in which 20 people died including 14 foreigners.
Around 10 vehicles were on fire in the streets near the hotel in Ouagadougou, not far from the city’s international airport.
The head of the city’s main hospital confirmed at least 20 dead and another 15 injured, and witnesses said the assailants were still holed up in the 147-room hotel.
A restaurant opposite the hotel was also attacked and a staff member, reached by telephone, said several people had been killed, but was not able to give an exact toll.
