DHAKA: An attack by suspected Islamist militants who took 170 people hostage at Radisson Blue Hotel in the Malian capital is over, US officials say.

The National Security Council condemned the "heinous attack" in Bamako, reports the BBC.

Mali said the gunmen had "no more hostages" and were being chased. More than 20 people died, and a national state of emergency has been declared.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its offshoot al-Murabitoun said they carried out the attack.

Speaking after a crisis cabinet meeting late on Friday, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced the state of emergency from midnight on Friday for 10 days, as well as three days of national mourning.

He said 21 people were killed in the attack, including two gunmen.

Earlier reports said at least 27 people had died. A UN official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said 12 bodies were found in the basement and 15 on the second floor.

One of the hostages killed was Geoffrey Dieudonne, a member of parliament in Belgium's Wallonia region.

China's state news agency Xinhua says three Chinese nationals are among the dead. The US state department said one US citizen was killed.

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said three Britons in the hotel were safe.

Pictures showed that some of the hostages leaving the hotel were wounded.

The US-owned hotel is popular with foreign businesses and airline crews.

Eyewitnesses said up to 13 gunmen had entered the hotel shooting and shouting "God is greatest!" in Arabic.

BDST: 0808 HRS, NOV 21, 2015
RS

** 3 hostages killed in Mali hotel attack