Several people taken hostage by suspected Islamist militants in central Mali have been freed.
Military sources say security forces rescued hostages including five foreigners from a hotel stormed by the gunmen.
Militants attacked the hotel used by U.N. staff, killing at least six people, taking others hostage and holding off troops encircling the building on Friday.
Russian and Ukrainian citizens were among those being held inside the Byblos Hotel.
A source reported to AFP news agency that they could not tell if everything is finished though a number of hostages had been freed by Malian forces who had been deployed around the Hotel.
Some of the hostages, whose nationalities is not yet clear were evacuated to Bamako.
Some members of the UN peacekeeping mission (Minusma) were also staying in the hotel, the government said.
South African and French citizens had also been staying at the hotel, according to government officials.
The violence began with a raid on a military site in the town of Sevare that was successfully repelled by government troops.
It highlights the threat posed by remnants of an al Qaeda-linked insurgency that appears to be stepping up a campaign against Malian troops and United Nations personnel.
It has also raised concerns of foreigners being targeted by insurgents.
