A government official in Mali says militants are no longer holding any more hostages in a luxury hotel in the capital after a rescue operation by special forces.

27 people have reportedly been killed in the siege.

US and French special troops helped local forces to free more than 130 hostages at the Radisson Blu in Bamako.

Mali's suffered from an insurgency over the last three years - which has included hostage-taking.

Terror expert Emily Mellgard thinks the hotel will have been carefully selected by the extremists.