Mali special forces have entered the building, and are freeing hostages 'floor by floor'.
The 80 hostages who are now free include three Turkish Airlines staff, 12 Air France staff and Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino.
Sekouba Bambino said he heard the gunmen talking in English in the next room, saying: 'Did you load it? Let's go'. More pics after cut....
15 hostages were freed after an unspecified "intervention", Belgian foreign minister Didier Reynders said.
At least three people have been killed after gunmen stormed the hotel - reportedly two Malians and a French citizen.
Elite French police unit on way to Mali.
Ten Chinese tourists and five Turkish Airlines personnel are among the hostages. 12 Air France crew members are reported to be safe. Indian and Guinean citizens were also staying at the hotels - their numbers are unknown.
No indication any Irish are caught up in the attack.
The hotel group says two gunmen are carrying out the attack. Other reports and a Malian army commander said up to 10 were responsible. The 80 hostages who are now free include three Turkish Airlines staff, 12 Air France staff and Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino, who said he heard the gunmen talking in English in the next room, saying: 'Did you load it? Let's go'.
Army commander Modibo Nama Traore said at least 30 hostages had been freed from the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako and security forces are trying to make contact with the assailants.
At least three people were killed as gunmen throwing grenades seized dozens of hostages in the Mali capital.
The attackers initially seized about 170 hostages, but Mr Traore said about 20 had been released before troops launched the raid.
It was not immediately clear why the group was freed or how many remained held by the militants, but Mr Traore said at least one guest reported that the attackers instructed him to recite verses from the Koran before he was allowed to leave the hotel.
He said 10 gunmen stormed the hotel shouting “Allahu Akbar” – “God is great” in Arabic – before firing on the guards and taking hostages.
France’s national security service said about 50 elite police troops are en route from Paris to Bamako.
A spokesman for the service said they are heading from two different units of special police forces trained for emergency situations.
French President Francois Hollande said France is ready to help Mali with all means necessary.
He urged all French citizens in Mali to make contact with the French embassy “in order that everything is made to offer them protection”.
Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has cut short his trip to Chad where he was attending a meeting of regional leaders.
The Mali presidency said on Twitter that Mr Keita will be back to Bamako “in the next hours”.
Update 12.15pm: France’s national security service said about 50 elite police troops are en route from Paris to Bamako.
A spokesman for the service said they are heading from two different units of special police forces trained for emergency situations.
In Belgium, foreign minister Didier Reynders said there were four Belgians registered at the hotel but it is unclear if they were taken hostage.
Mr Reynders also said there are “15 hostages who have been freed after an intervention” but did not provide more details.
The Mali presidency said on Twitter that Mr Keita will be back to Bamako “in the next hours”.
Update 12 noon: Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that about 10 Chinese citizens were sheltering inside their hotel rooms. The Chinese embassy was in phone contact with them and all were reported safe, according to the report. All are employees of Chinese companies working in Mali.
Five Turkish Airlines personnel were among the freed hostages, Turkey’s state-run news agency said.
The website of the official China Daily newspaper also cited an unidentified witness as saying one Chinese citizen had been rescued.
The UN mission said it was sending security reinforcements and medical aid to the scene. Ambulances were seen rushing to the hotel as a military helicopter flew overhead.
Air France has cancelled flight 3852 from Paris to Bamako.
Update 11.30am:At least three people are dead, military officials confirmed.
Update 10.55am:About 20 hostages have been freed from a hotel seized by gunmen in Bamako, Mali, an army commander said. It was not immediately clear why the group was freed or how many remained held by the militants.
Military commander Modibo Naman Traore said 10 gunmen stormed the hotel shouting “Allahu Akbar” – “God is great” in Arabic – before firing on the guards and taking hostages.
Some guests escaped the hotel. Monique Kouame Affoue Ekonde, an Ivorian, said she and six other people were escorted out by security forces.
Update10.35am:Two Malian citizens and a French citizen have died in the Mali hotel attack, a UN official is reported by CNN to have said.
Update 10.30am: There is uncertainty about the number of gunmen holding 170 people hostage at
the hotel. A statement from the Rezidor Hotel Group says two gunmen are responsible. Other sources say 10 have taken control of the hotel and are keeping 140 guests and 30 staff inside at gunpoint. More as we get it.
Update 10.10am:There are reports citing security sources that some gunmen at the Mali hotel are freeing hostages who are able to recite verses of the Qur'an. Two women have been escorted from the besieged Bamako hotel.
Earlier:
A staff member at the Radisson Blu hotel said that the attackers used grenades in the assault.
170 hostages have been taken. The hotel is reportedly often used by Air France staff, though it is not yet clear whether there is any direct link to last week's attacks in Paris
Malian army commander Modibo Nama Traore said 10 gunmen stormed the hotel this morning shouting “Allahu Akbar” or “God is great” in Arabic before firing on the guards and taking hostages.
The US and French embassies asked their citizens to take shelter where they are in Bamako.
In a statement from the Rezidor Hotel Group, it was confirmed some 170 hostages had been taken.
The statement reads: "We are aware of the hostage-taking that is ongoing at the property. As per our information two persons have locked in 140 guests and 30 employees.
"Our safety and security teams and our corporate team are in constant contact with the local authorities in order offer any support possible to re-instate safety and security at the hotel.
"At this point we do not have further information and continue to closely monitor the situation."
The US embassy in Mali asked citizens to shelter in place amid reports of an “ongoing active shooter operation” at the hotel, raising fears of an attack by extremists.
Following a military coup in 2012, Islamic extremists took control of northern Mali, prompting a French-led military intervention in early 2013.
The extremists were scattered from northern towns and cities, though the north remains insecure and militant attacks have extended south this year.
n March masked gunmen shot up a restaurant popular with foreigners in Bamako, located in Mali's south, killing five people.
About 1,000 French troops remain in the country. The Netherlands also has troops working with the UN mission in Mali.
According to the Dutch defence ministry, 450 Dutch military personnel are taking part in the mission along with four Apache and three Chinook helicopters. Most of the Dutch force is based in Gao, but there are a few officers at the UN mission headquarters in Bamako.
China’s embassy issued a warning to Chinese businesses and residents to step up safety precautions in the face of “continuous deterioration of security conditions” in Bamako.
China has a long history of providing aid and investment to Mali, particularly in the areas of transport infrastructure, construction and mineral extraction.
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