UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – The South African and Ukrainian Foreign Ministries confirmed earlier reports that its nationals had been among the victims of the deadly attack on a hotel in the town of Sevare, nearly 400 miles northeast of the capital city of Bamako.
"Five lost their lives and an inquiry is underway to establish the exact circumstances of their death during the events,” MINUSMA said in a statement.
A nearly 24-hour siege ended earlier in the day as Malian special forces, backed by French soldiers, stormed the hotel that unidentified men had attacked on Friday.
MINUSMA said it was relieved at the successful conclusion of the anti-terrorist operation, but reiterated its “strong condemnation” of the attack.
It added that four hostages had been freed in the operation: two South African, one Russian and one Ukrainian nationals.
"They are all in good health. The attackers did not detect their presence in the hotel and MINUSMA was in permanent contact with them throughout the attack and until its end," the mission said.
"It was confirmed that no Russians were among the victims. A total of four civilians were killed, including two Ukrainian, one South African and one Nepalese national," the embassy’s charge d’affaires Viktor Gorelykh told RIA Novosti.
