MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia is now verifying the exact number of its nationals who lost their lives when gunmen stormed the Radisson Blu Hotel on Friday and took 170 people hostage.
"As of morning, November 21, we can confirm that there were Russians among the deceased," spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told RIA Novosti.
She said the ministry would make an official announcement after it put together the list of those killed in the hotel attack, which claimed a total of 21 lives, including suspected gunmen.
Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared a national state of emergency in Mali on Friday.
The Al Mourabitoun Islamist militant group has reportedly claimed responsibility for the Bamako attack, saying it was carried out jointly with al-Qaeda.
