Four hostages have been freed after Malian forces, backed by French soldiers, ended the siege of a hotel in Mali.
Suspected Islamist militants reportedly killed at least six other people, including five government soldiers and a peacekeeping mission worker.
Gunmen attacked the Byblos Hotel used by UN staff in the town of Sevare, around six-hundred kilometres northeast of the capital Bamako early on Friday.
Three attackers, one strapped with explosives, were killed.
The nationalities of the freed hostages have not been given. Ukraine and Russia previously confirmed that their citizens were among those held.
Remnants of al-Qaeda linked insurgency appear to be stepping up a campaign against Malian troops and United Nations staff.
